EMEA News
EU Ports in Deal for LNG Bunkering Cooperation
The Port of Rotterdam Authority says it has signed a liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure development deal with the port authorities of Antwerp, Mannheim, Strasbourg, and Switzerland.
The five ports will cooperate in research, promotion, knowledge transfer, and bunker infrastructure as Europe seeks to expand the use of LNG as a marine fuel.
The ports are involved in a European Union (EU) plan to use LNG for inland shipping on the Rhine-Main-Danube corridor.
"The cooperation ties in with the Port of Rotterdam Authority's aim to see the market for LNG as a fuel develop to its full potential, and to open an LNG hub in Rotterdam before the end of 2015," the port authority said.
The EU has provided €40 million ($55 million) for LNG infrastructure in the area.
Under the plan, the Danser Group has begun retrofitting its Eiger-Nordwand tow boat for LNG fuel.
The logistics and shipping company expects the retrofit to be complete in June, after which the vessel will operate on 99 percent LNG fuel, greatly reducing its emissions, according to the company website.
