Italy approved an LNG receiving vessel moored off Tuscany to start ship-to-ship transfers to smaller LNG vessels, such as purpose-built bunkering vessels and barges.
The floating storage and regasification unit FSRU Toscana is ow moored off Tuscany, where it has served as a receiving station for LNG shipments from abroad.
Last week, the Italian government gave the green light for FSRU Toscana to being transferring some of its liquefied fuel directly to smaller LNG carriers. According to OLT, the Toscana’s operator, the number of operating LNG bunkering barges in Europe is expected to rise from six vessels to 21 vessels by the end of 2021.
FSRU Toscana will also enable the distribution of LNG as a transportation fuel for trucks, port equipment and other uses.
Becase of this project, Italy will be able to make use of a more sustainable energy source than traditional fuels, in line with the best practices already widespread in Europe, said Maurizio Zangrandi, co-CEO of OLT.
As he further explains, in the short term, Italy will no longer have to depend on LNG supplies from France, Spain and Belgium.
