Spanish companies partner up in promoting LNG bunkering

The Port Authority from Ferrol, Gas Natural Fenosa, Reganosa and Ferrol Container Terminal have joined to develop the LNG supply in the ports of Ferrol and San Cibrao for LNG-fueled ships.

They will also study which infrastructures are needed for provisioning this fuel for both sea and ground transportation.

These four partners have prepared a memorandum which has been signed by José Manuel Vilariño Anca, as the president of the Port Authority from Ferrol-San Cibrao, José Luis Lloret Soler, as Solutions and Energy Services from Gas Natural, filial of Gas Natural Fenosa, Emilio Bruquetas, general manager of Reganosa, and Lopo María Martíns de Castro Feijó, president of FCT.

The initiative is connected to the “European directive of implantation of a infrastructure for alternative fuel”, which has recently entered in force and which, among other improvements, promotes the creation of an LNG supply network in sea ports. This infrastructure is focused on permitting that ships obey the emission limits which will shortly rule in the Emission Control Areas. In this context, the partners are interested in positioning Ferrol as a reference Atlantic port because of the strategic position of Ferrol, its guarantee of access to LNG through Mugardos terminal, property of Reganosa, and the presence of shypyards qualified in LNG maintenance in the sea inlet.

This effort made together by the four partners improves the position of Ferrol in the race for taking advantage in the services which will be needed by ports in the future. The Port Authority, Reganosa and Navantia, Xunta de Galicia and the University of Santiago are also working on this issue through the Ten-T program, which is supported by the European Commission.

The memorandum signed establishes a guide for cooperating and promoting energy efficiency in the sea and ground transportation in this port, and, among other measures, the ones needed to set LNG supply as a fuel for ships.

One of the measures that is going to be taken is a viability study of LNG supply in the outer port and an analysis of the provisioning needs of LNG in the port frame. The Port Authority of Ferrol-San Cibrao is committed to promoting the emission reduction by using LNG in ships and vehicles linked to activity in the port.

The direct implication of Ferrol Container Terminal in this agreement shows the interest in making container ships to dock in the outer port, and that they could be supplied with LNG during their load and unload operations. This will confer an operational capacity of great relevance to compete in the market of this kind of transportation.

In addition to investigating the proposal, the four partners will exchange technicians to develop the programs. They will also promote the knowledge of the services and capacity of the port of Ferrol in the LNG frame among ship-owners and the rest of port operators.

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Press Release; Image: The Port Authority of Ferrol