EMEA News
LNG Bunkering Vessel Launched in Stockholm
The Ports of Stockholm in Sweden says it is now one of the few in the world that offers a liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering infrastructure, with the launching of a new bunkering vessel by Northern European gas company AGA AB.
The new vessel, Seagas, which was named at a ceremony on March 20, will be stationed at Loudden and will provide LNG to the Viking Line's M/S Viking Grace cruise ship.
"Our new passenger ferry, M/S Viking Grace, represents an environmental milestone, and the ability to provide LNG bunkering opportunities is a very important piece of the jigsaw in our environmental work," said Tony Öhman, technical director for Viking Line.
"That is why we are very pleased that the solution for LNG bunkering is now in place."
AGA AB CEO Jan Bäckvall said Seagas, along with the company's LNG terminal in Nynäshamn, allow for fueling of the Viking Grace.
AGA parent company The Linde Group of Norway also plans to build another LNG import terminal on Sweden's west coast, with operations scheduled to start in the spring of 2014.
"Together with Viking Line and AGA we have solved the important permit issues, built an infrastructure and established good bunkering procedures," said Helena Bonnier, chair of the Board of Directors at Ports of Stockholm.
"We will also be able to utilise this experience in future LNG infrastructure solutions."
The European Union (EU) said in January that it was providing funding for the bunkering vessel as part of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) Executive Agency Programme.
