EMEA News
GAINN Projects to Support Development of LNG Bunkers in the EU
A European Union (EU) agency Monday announced two programs that will facilitate the adoption of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the bunkering infrastructure in and around the Mediterranean.
The two projects, known as GAINN4MOS and GAINN4SHIP INNOVATION, aim to analyze the best options to allow ports to provide LNG bunker supply services, and will identify actions aimed at designing and building such supply facilities, according to a press release.
A key driver behind the projects is to help operators comply with environmental regulations "in the most efficient way possible" and in particular with respect to the anticipated 0.5 percent sulfur cap for bunkers used in territorial waters of the EU from 2020 - something that also has the potential to be a global cap.
New regulations also set out the appropriate number of LNG supply points that need to be installed in the main EU ports in order for LNG-fueled vessels to travel the Ten-T network as of 2025.
The projects will also include engineering studies on adapting ships to reduce their emissions levels, which aim to cut vessels' greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 20 percent, and sulfur emissions by 80 percent.
The so-called "GAINN" projects are being coordinated by the Fundación Valenciaport and co-financed by the European Commission (EC) through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) programme.
The GAINN4MOS project involves Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Portugal, and Slovenia.
In 2013 the EC called for LNG refuelling stations in all major ports in the European Union (EU).
