Port of Antwerp Completes First LNG Bunkering Operation on Seagoing Vessel

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Wednesday September 16, 2015

The Port of Antwerp has successfully completed its first truck-to-ship liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering operation on a seagoing vessel, the port announced this week.

The Sefarina, operated by Netherlands-based Chemgas Shipping, was also reportedly to the first ship to obtain a particulates discount. 

The port said that although the ability to bunker with LNG had already been available for a while, so far it had only been used on barges. 

The recent development with the Sefarina is expected to act as a test case for future safety procedures, and the success of the operation has also led the port to begin looking for a candidate to build and operate at a permanent LNG bunkering and filling station, the port said.

"The aim is for barges to be able to bunker with LNG in the Port of Antwerp at a permanent facility by the beginning of 2019 at the latest," it said. 

Earlier this year, it was reported that the new permanent facility is expected to have 450 cubic metres of storage capacity.