Aim is to speed up the establishment of LNG as a marine fuel
The largest port in Europe, the Port of Rotterdam, and the largest port in Scandinavia, the Port of Gothenburg, have entered a new alliance aimed at speeding up the establishment of LNG as a marine fuel.
The two ports are set to sign a memorandum of understanding which will lead to the ports co-operating over the provision of infrastructure for LNG bunkering available once even stricter sulphur regulations come into effect.
Both ports are located within the northern European Sulphur Emissions Control Area (SECA) in where a 0.1% maxi8mum sulphur content limit comes into effect on 1 January 2015.
Rotterdam’s chief operating officer, Ronald Paul, said: “We see LNG as an important opportunity for the maritime industry to comply with the sulphur directive in 2015. The use of LNG as a fuel fits in our policy to become the most sustainable port. We consider the Port of Gothenburg as a strong partner in the Scandinavian market for this issue.”
We are extremely pleased that the largest port in Europe has joined forces with us in this important issue. Working together, we will have a very strong offering to the market,” says Magnus Kårestedt, Port of Gothenburg Chief Executive.
A statement claims that LNG offers substantial environmental benefits. It says: “Sulphur and particle emissions would be reduced to almost zero, nitrogen oxide emissions by 85-90 per cent and net greenhouse gases by 15-20 per cent.”
It continues: “To achieve the LNG target at both ports by 2015, rapid development is required in a number of areas. The necessary infrastructure at the ports needs to be constructed and rules will need to be drafted for handling LNG. It is also vital that the two ports promote awareness of LNG as a maritime fuel.”
Source: World Bunkering
