The Port of Vancouver recently authorized LNG bunkering operations to take place within the limits of the port.
In November 2024, North Vancouver’s Seaspan Energy received the first-to-be-issued LNG bunkering accreditation from the port authority. This means it is now authorized to conduct ship-to-ship LNG bunkering at the Port of Vancouver. Seaspan Energy’s accreditation was issued following rigorous risk assessments and mitigation processes that considered international best practices around safety.
This accreditation makes LNG the first approved alternative fuel for ship bunkering at the Port of Vancouver. By allowing cargo ships powered with LNG to safely and efficiently refuel while in port, Seaspan Energy’s accreditation—along with the port authority’s LNG accreditation program—also contribute to streamlining port calls.

The refueling of cargo ships with LNG and other marine fuels within port waterways is subject to stringent requirements that align with industry best practices and guidelines, as defined by the Society for Gas as a Marine Fuel (for LNG) and the International Safety Guide for Oil Tankers and Terminals (for conventional fuels).
Those requirements also consider the distinctive features of the different areas of the port where bunkering takes place, including English Bay, Burrard Inlet, and the Fraser River, to ensure it is carried out as safely and efficiently as possible, and that is doesn’t interfere with—or pose a risk to—nearby vessels, communities, and infrastructure. Examples of those safety requirements and procedures include:
- Annual review and accreditation of all bunker suppliers operating within the port
- Detailed logging and record keeping of all bunkering operations conducted within the port
- Advance notice to the port authority of any bunkering operation set to take place within the port
- Reliable communication channels and protocols maintained throughout bunker transfer, to enable quick shutdown of the operation at any time, if needed
Because it is stored and transported in cooling tanks to maintain its liquid state, the process of handling and transferring LNG into ships’ fuel tanks differs slightly from the bunkering of fuel oils and is subject to additional safety considerations.
These include requirements for suppliers to use LNG-specific safety checklists and to only conduct bunkering operations within designated areas of the port. Any ship using LNG as fuel must also be approved by Transport Canada and comply with all relevant operating practices and procedures specific to their vessel type.