EMEA News
INEA Commissions Another LNG-Powered Vessel
The Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (INEA) has commissioned its second inland vessel running on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), the organisation announced.
The construction of the Sirocco comes on the heels of the inauguration of the Eiger-Nordwand earlier this year.
Both are part of the LNG Masterplan Rhine-Main-Danube project, which is looking to test the viability of LNG-powered vessels and cargo ships as a less polluting alternative for European inland waterways.
As well as bunkering infrastructure, the project also plans to retrofit a number of vessels with LNG-powered engines.
INEA said NOx and particulate emissions (PM) are currently the largest pollutants among the inland waterways, and switching to LNG could decrease those emissions "substantially".
"LNG is rapidly emerging as a more environmentally friendly fuel for the shipping sector and its uptake is strongly encouraged by the European Union," said INEA Executive Director Dirk Beckers after the inauguration of the Eiger-Nordwand.
The project is financed through the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) programme, with over €40 million in EU funding and implemented by 33 public and private companies and organisations across 12 EU member states.
The results of the LNG Masterplan project are due by December 2015.
It was reported last year that demand for LNG in Europe has been falling, driving sellers to Asia and Latin America.
