EMEA News
Port of Dunkirk Announces Partners for LNG Bunkering Project
The French port of Dunkirk will partner with fellow French companies Dunkerque LNG and Air Liquide, along with Belgian company Exmar in building and operating a liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering station.
A call for possible partners was made earlier this year in April after a European directive announced the need for a drastic reduction in sulfur emissions from ships, particularly in the Channel and North Sea area.
The project will see Dunkerque LNG responsible for preliminary studies, engineering and investments for marine bunkering.
Air Liquide will work with Dunkerque LNG in on-land installation, while Exmar will handle the building and development of a bunkering ship.
Exmar will continue operation of the ship after construction.
The port is also currently looking to accommodate LNG ships with capacities of up to 2,000 m3 in the construction of the loading arms and main wharf of the LNG terminal.
Plans are also in place to build a marine station specifically dedicated to bunkering and capable of accommodating ships with capacities of between 2,000 and 20,000 m3.
The group said that it then plans to expand into inland waterways with the construction of a bunkering barge.
The terminal is expected to be operational by the end of 2015, and will be the first port of entry in the Emissions Control Area (ECA) that will be able to offer efficient LNG bunkering.
