Port of Gothenburg Breaks Ground on LNG Bunkering Facility

The Port of Gothenburg has launched the construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in an effort to open up new opportunities for LNG-fuelled ships.

The facility, scheduled to become fully operational during 2018, will be scalable and adaptable to the needs of ships that call at the Gothenburg Energy Port.

LNG will arrive at the facility by trailer or in containers, and will be distributed via a 450-metre vacuum-insulated cryogenic pipeline to the quayside.

The facility marks the first step in the construction of a broader solution for the gas infrastructure at the Port of Gothenburg, with the potential to connect to the gas transmission network.

“As is the case with the gas transmission network, in which both natural gas and biogas can be transported, the new facility will be flexible and can also be used for the storage and transport of renewable gas,” Johan Zettergren, Swedegas Chief Executive, said.

“Customers with access to the transmission network can already choose biogas, and this is something we are looking to extend to the shipping sector as the next step in their transition to environmentally correct alternatives,” Zettergren added.

The EU has assigned the project PCI (Project of Common Interest) status, which means that it is among the most prioritised infrastructure projects in Europe. The EU, via the INEA (Innovation and Networks Executive Agency), has also confirmed that support measures are in place to ensure the project will reach fruition.

The first LNG bunkering took place at the Port of Gothenburg in autumn 2016, and since then operating regulations and routines have been developed and efficiency has been improved, resulting in a steady rise in the number of LNG bunkering operations.

Today, Skangas is supplying vessels with LNG using a ship-to-ship bunkering system at the Port of Gothenburg. Skangas has now been joined by Swedegas, which owns and runs the Swedish gas transmission network. Swedegas will expand the number of LNG options at the port with the construction of a facility that will ensure safe, rapid and effective landside LNG bunkering whilst vessels are loading and discharging at the Energy Port.

“With both Skangas and Swedegas operating at the Port of Gothenburg, we have two companies that complement each other with different offerings. Shipping lines now have a further incentive to consider switching to LNG,” said Jill Söderwall, Vice President and Head of Commercial Operations at the Port of Gothenburg Energy Port.