Rotterdam Port Offers LNG Bunkering for Seagoers

The Port of Rotterdam has introduced LNG bunkering for seagoing ships. Until recently, Seinehaven offered such a possibility for inland shipping only.

LNG is cheaper and cleaner for the environment than fuel oil, the traditional shipping fuel. It is anticipated that many ports will follow the example of the Port of Rotterdam.

The Port Authority previously supported an initiative of Gate to open an LNG terminal on the Maasvlakte in 2011.

Facilities in the Seinehaven were opened last year allowing inland shipping to bunker LNG from an LNG tanker.

The Dutch LNG Platform also supports the use of LNG by trucks, inland and seagoing shipping.

The Port Authority has worked over the past two years with other ports to achieve a legislative amendment which enables LNG-fuelled vessels to bunker from an LNG bunkering vessel.

“That was a major condition of the general introduction of LNG,” said Harbour Master René de Vries.

“In the ten hours they stay in the Port of Rotterdam, container ships should be able to bunker at the same time as they transfer cargo.

This is only possible, if it happens ship-to-ship. And that is now possible.”

The new rules also imply that LNG may only be bunkered at designated locations within the Municipality of Rotterdam.

The legislation is based on national and international safety studies and laws and regulations, standards and best practice guidelines of other ports.

[mappress]

Press Release; July, 2014