On March 14, the CMA CGM SYMI, a Maltese container ship, entered Yangshan Port Phase II in Shanghai's Lin-gang Special Area and was refueled with bonded liquefied natural gas, or LNG, by an LNG refueling vessel.

This is the first order of bonded LNG refueling business for international vessels in China, which means that Shanghai Port became one of the few ports in the world to be capable of providing a LNG refueling services.

Bonded LNG refueling is an important part of the bonded fuel supply service for international ships.

Companies in the Lin-gang Special Area of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone can refuel international vessels with LNG and other new fuels, according to the Regulations of the Lin-gang Special Area of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, which just went into effect on March 1.

In addition, with the approval from the Shanghai municipal government, 11 municipal departments, such as the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, issued policies to support Lin-gang to pilot the bonded LNG refueling service.

The bonded LNG refueling business for international vessels has effectively reduced the operating costs of the new fuel ship, which will play a positive role in improving the service functions of Shanghai Port and promoting the development of environmentally friendly shipping.

For the container-ship CMA CGM SYMI, when the ship arrives at the port, it can start operation and begin refueling at the same time, which greatly saves time and costs, a Yangshan Immigration Inspection official said.