EMEA News
Baltic Sea May Lead the Way to LNG Bunkering
Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg has said the Baltic Sea could be a pilot area for the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as an alternative to traditional bunker fuel, United Press International reports.
Speaking at the Baltic Sea Summit in Russia, Stoltenberg said Norway, which has been a leader in the adoption of LNG bunkers, supports European Union (EU) efforts to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions in the Baltic.
He said the area is already heavily polluted by nitrogen and phosphorus, leading to the growth of algae and dead seabeds.
Beginning in 2015 the EU and International Maritime Organisation (IMO) have mandated a 0.10 percent limit on the sulfur content of marine fuels in Emissions Control Areas (ECA) including the Baltic and North Seas, and the IMO is also working on reducing NOx and particulate matter limits on the Baltic Sea.
To make LNG bunkering a reality in the area, ports will need to invest in storage and ship refuelling capabilities.
"Norway supports technological solutions to meet the new requirements for the maritime industry in the Baltic Sea," Stoltenberg said.
"One of the most promising alternatives is the use of LNG as fuel for ships."
Stoltenberg said the Baltic Sea's history of innovative maritime industries and the short distances involved in shipping through the sea make it a good candidate for pilot use of LNG fuel.
The European Commission (EC) has called for the construction of LNG bunkering infrastructure across Europe by 2025, and the EU has already begun funding some projects to move the technology forward.
However, issues earlier in the year over the EU's 2014-2020 budget forced a reduction in funding for transportation and infrastructure projects to $30 billion, from the $42 billion that was originally proposed.
