EMEA News
Bomin Linde Signs LNG Bunker Supply Deal
Bomin Linde LNG (Bomin Linde) has signed a deal to supply Reederei Cassen Eils (part of the AG EMS Group) with Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) bunkers to power its newbuild passenger and cargo ferry, LNG Industry reports.
It is estimated that the LNG to be supplied by Bomin Linde will replace more than 1.2 million litres of marine diesel which would be needed to fuel a comparable conventional vessel.
The new vessel will be refuelled using a LNG bunkering process certified by its classification society and flag state authority.
"The technical process is comparable to the process of bunkering traditional fuels," said Claus Hirsch, Technical Inspector for AG EMS.
"However, as the [LNG] is cooled to around -163°C, security precautions and appropriate staff training are essential."
Once delivered in May 2015, the new ferry will operate between Germany's mainland and the North Sea island of Heligoland.
The new ship will use two 9-cylinder Wärtsilä 20DF medium-speed dual-fuel engines with a power output of 5,000 kW offering a maximum speed of 20 knots.
Bomin Linde plans to establish a LNG storage facility at Hamburg which will serve as a distribution centre for neighbouring ports.
The company announced it would supply LNG bunkers to another German ferry operator at the start of 2014.
"This...is a further step along the path towards establishing LNG as a marine fuel in Germany," said Ruben Benders, Managing Director at Bomin Linde.
Shell was last week said to have placed an order for a LNG bunkering vessel for use at fellow North Sea port, Rotterdam.
