Rotterdam to Get Floating LNG-Powered Cold Ironing System by June 2017

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Thursday October 8, 2015

Rotterdam-based towage operator Kotug International BV (Kotug) has announced it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Becker Marine Systems GmbH & Co. KG (BMS) to launch a liquid natural gas (LNG) powered "floating energy plant" in the Port of Rotterdam, that will service as a cold ironing system for the port's vessels.

Due to be operational in June 2017, Kotug says the LNG Hybrid Barge will primarily be used to deliver "clean energy" to moored cruise ships, traditionally key clients of KOTUG. 

"It is an alternative for producing electricity in the traditional way by either their generator sets or their main engines," it said.

In 2014 BMS launched a similar cold ironing system in Hamburg.

"We see this advanced flexible solution as an opportunity for Rotterdam and other international ports," said Dirk Lehmann, Managing Director of BMS

Mai Elmar, Executive Director of Cruise Port Rotterdam, says she sees the addition of the barge as a positive step toward reducing emissions in the port.

"The cruise industry is known to work successfully towards a cleaner and healthier environment to which this LNG Hybrid Barge certainly substantially will contribute to," said Elmar.

"It will enable the cruise vessels to consume energy in an even cleaner and green way. We are delighted to learn about this initiative and are looking forward to welcome the LNG Hybrid barge in Rotterdam."

BMS will own and provide services to charter out the LNG Hybrid Barge, while KOTUG will move the LNG Hybrid Barge and will provide commercial, technical, and operational management of it.

At the end of September, it was reported that the Port of Rotterdam has also been making strides in the adoption of LNG as a marine fuel.