EMEA News
First UK LNG Bunkering Facility Planned
Portsmouth International Port is preparing to establish the UK's first liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering facility and hub, with technical support from Lloyd's Register, news site LNG Industry reports.
A Brittany Ferries vessel powered by LNG, scheduled for delivery in 2016, is set to bunker in the port.
"Obviously with growing demand for LNG, ports are looking to understand how they can develop the capability to deliver LNG bunkering services safely," said Leonidas Karistios, Lloyd's Register's Global Gas Technology Manager.
"It has to be safety first and Portsmouth is looking to ensure that they have the right, safe, approach to support operational and commercial ambitions."
The class society will help the port with technical specifications for bunkering equipment, operational procedures, port safety and emergency planning, and personnel training.
"We can use experience gained in projects like Singapore Port and Viking Grace to apply real project experience to deliver advice for the planning and execution of LNG bunkering to both the port and its bunkering service providers," said Thanos Koliopulos, global special projects manager.
"We can help Portsmouth to get ready for real LNG bunkering operations, not only for ferry and short-sea shipping, but our global expertise and perspective can also help them to prepare for supporting LNG-fuelled deep sea shipping requirements."
Logistics and safety aspects of LNG are the subject of ongoing studies by organizations including DNV GL and the Society for Gas as a Marine Fuel (SGMF).
