EMEA News
Rotterdam LNG Bunkering Now Official for Inland Shipping
The Port of Rotterdam Authority says that thanks to amendments to the Port Management Regulations, effective July 1, 2013 inland shipping can officially bunker liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the Seinehaven, in Rotterdam Botlek.
The port said Rotterdam is the first port in Europe where inland shipping can officially bunker LNG, and on June 27 Port Alderman Jeannette Baljeu welcomed clients who had come to watch the Greenstream, an LNG only powered barge launched in March, bunkering LNG in the Seinehaven.
The move is expected to "give an extra boost" to the introduction of LNG as a marine fuel.
"LNG is a new fuel for inland and ocean shipping. This means that the regulations need to be amended. Otherwise, there can be no bunkering and the innovation has no chance of success," Port Alderman Jeannette Baljeu said in a statement.
"Designating the Seinehaven as a location for possible bunkering operations is the first step towards this. Together with other port authorities (Amsterdam, Gothenburg and Antwerp, among others) the Port Authority is now preparing further international regulations."
Port of Rotterdam Authority said it expects the location of the first LNG bunker station in the port to be announced this year.
