On 23rd March 2021, Port of Antwerp, Fluxys and Titan LNG christened a new LNG bunker vessel named as “FlexFueler 002 “. Owned by gas infrastructure group Fluxys and the leading LNG supplier Titan LNG, the bunker barge ensures that ships can refuel with LNG anywhere in the port.
It is known that the demand for LNG is increasing, especially now that its importance for the energy transition within shipping is gradually being recognized. LNG reduces sulfur and particulate matter emissions to negligible amounts. In addition, up to 85% less nitrogen oxides and considerably less greenhouse gases are released into the air.
[smlsubform prepend=”GET THE SAFETY4SEA IN YOUR INBOX!” showname=false emailtxt=”” emailholder=”Enter your email address” showsubmit=true submittxt=”Submit” jsthanks=false thankyou=”Thank you for subscribing to our mailing list”]
According to Port of Antwerp, in terms of climate, the LNG bunkering infrastructure in the port can in the near future be used for fully carbon-neutral variants of LNG, such as liquid biogas (from organic waste) or liquid synthetic methane (from green hydrogen and captured CO2). Liquid biogas and liquid synthetic methane offer scalable solutions for the maritime sector. The growing LNG infrastructure in the port of Antwerp is completely ready for the future and can supply carbon-neutral variants of LNG.
The advantage of the new bunker vessel and of our other LNG refueling installations in the port is that they are suitable for carbon-neutral LNG options without the need for additional investment for shipowners.
…Pascal de Buck, CEO at Fluxys, noted.
For the record, the FlexFueler 002 is the third bunker vessel in Titan’s fleet to make LNG available as a marine fuel throughout the ARA region.
As the fifth largest bunkering port in the world, we want to play a pioneering role in the integration of low-carbon fuels in the bunker market. With the arrival of the FlexFueler 002, we are taking another important step in the transition to a multi fuel port. LNG is now available everywhere in the port as a shipping fuel, enabling us to further facilitate the energy transition in the port and in the entire Antwerp region.
…Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO of Port of Antwerp, said.
Concluding, the FlexFueler 002 guarantees flexible refueling with LNG, possibly even during loading or unloading, while is a further step in the transition that the port of Antwerp is undergoing to grow into a multi-fuel port.