The first ship-to-ship LNG fuel transfer in the Baltic is being hailed as a major step forward for gas-powered vessels.

On Sunday, the 1,036-teu Wes Amelie (built 2011) received gas fuel from the 7,500-cbm Kairos (built 2018) while in an anchorage off Visby, Sweden, fuel company Nauticor announced.

"The successful operation proves again that LNG is becoming a fuel for all segments in the shipping sector and that the availability of the molecules is secured in Northwest Europe," said Mahinde Abeynaike, chief executive of the German fuel company.