Energy major Total has narrowed down the bidders left in its search to build a large-size LNG bunker vessel (LNGBV).

Sources following the project say just two shipowning names remain in the frame for the 18,600-cbm LNGBV newbuilding, each of which is bidding against an offer from a different shipyard.

Brokers say three owners made the shortlist, which has been slimmed down from a possible eight that were listed at the end of last year.

Dutch small-scale specialist Anthony Veder is understood to be one, with an offer of a newbuilding at China's Avic Dingheng Shipbuilding, where it has built tonnage previously.

Belgium’s Exmar was named as another and is partnering Jiangnan Shipyard on its bid.

Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement is also said to have made the initial cut. The German owner is currently working with Hyundai Mipo Dockyard on an LNGBV for another owner.

It remains unclear which two are in final negotiations on the vessel.

The selection of an owner and yard for the project is due to be made this month, with a shipbuilding contract and charter deal to be signed at the end of January or in early February.

Total is racing against time to get work started on the LNGBV newbuilding. The energy major was selected by CMA CGM to provide the LNG to fuel the French containership giant’s raft of nine supersize boxships, which it ordered in China in September last year.

But construction work has already started on the 22,000-teu containerships, which are being built at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) and Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding, the first of which is due for delivery in 2020.

Purpose-built LNGBVs are specialised vessels and only a handful have been built to date. They also come with specialised features designed to facilitate LNG bunkering operations, which can prove new and challenging for yards to accommodate on a small-scale vessel.

TradeWinds understands the 150-metre-long LNGBV for Total will be kitted out with azimuth thrusters to give the vessel good manoeuvrability.

It is not yet clear if the vessel will be fitted with Type-C cargo tanks or a membrane-type system. To date, the off-the-shelf Type-C tank has proved the favourite for LNGBVs but CMA CGM’s boxships are being fitted with a membrane system for their onboard, 18,300-cbm LNG bunker tanks.

When delivered, the Total vessel is likely to rank as the largest purpose-built LNGBV constructed at around triple the size of the largest in service to date.

Total Marine Fuels Global Solutions will supply 300,000 tonnes per annum of LNG as bunkers to CMA CGM over a 10-year period from 2020. The giant boxships will bunker in northern Europe and have been designed to complete a round-trip voyage between Asia and Europe without the need to refuel.