BPO Launches New LNG Bunkering Project

Baltic Ports Organisation (BPO) has decided to initiate another project related to the possible LNG bunkering infrastructure facilities at the ports and possible bunkering vessels in some relevant Baltic Sea Ports and regions, taking into account the experience gained from the LNG projects, the maturity of the global project in the Baltic Sea Region, and the upcoming SECA regulations.

The following Baltic Sea key regions have been preliminary identified as areas for a possible development of a common small scale LNG bunkering facilities:

• Turku, Naantali, Pori (FI);
• Gulf of Finland (FI & EE);
• Gulf of Riga and Ventspils (LV);
• Gdansk Bay & Klaipeda (PL& T);
• Szczecin/Świnoujście (PL)
• Rostock & Lübeck (DE); and
• Aarhus, Helsingborg, Trelleborg & Copenhagen-Malmö, (SE& DK).

The new LNG initiative in itself should consist of several main activities and they, in turn, include some specific sub-activities. The activities should encompass planning, design, location and LNG bunkering of the participating partners in a harmonised manner.

This approach will avoid particular partners developing a new technology individually and initiate a forum for sharing knowledge of best-practice and ‘know-how’.

The Global Project implementation will allow first-moving LNG shipping companies such as Viking Line, amongst others, to find bunkering possibilities in a network of ports around the Baltic Sea.

Benefits of the result of the action can be drawn, not only for the seaports themselves, but for all seaports in the Baltic Sea and EU. In addition, other ports in Europe and relevant stakeholders engaged in LNG development will be addressed.