EMEA News
Becker Marine Receives State Funding for Container-Based LNG Cold-Ironing Concept
Hamburg-based Becker Marine Systems GmbH & Co. (Becker) has announced that the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) will promote and help fund the company's new liquefied natural gas (LNG) hybrid cold ironing system.
On Monday February 15, Enak Ferlemann, the Parliamentary Secretary at the BMVI presented to Becker a grant notification for funding in the "seven-figure range" for the concept that will see LNG supply energy to ships at port.
The grant is being provided under the German government's Mobility and Fuel Strategy program, which promotes the use of LNG as an alternative fuel for maritime applications.
The new system, the size of two 40-foot containers, will combine a gas-powered generator with an output of 1.5 Megawatts.
Once a container ship is moored the unit is placed on board via the port terminal's locally available gantry cranes, ship-to-shore cranes, or van carriers, and will provide energy to the onboard power supply during the vessel's layover.
"An LNG [power pack] is equipped with a 20-foot LNG ISO tank. The quantity of 8.2 tons of LNG provided in this way enables an efficient supply of energy on board for up to 30 hours," said Ralf-Thomas Rapp, Director LNG Hybrid, Becker.
For ships spending a longer time at port there is a "cascading option," that would see two tank containers arranged on top of each other, ensuring continuous supply of power for up to 60 hours.
Two LNG systems operated in tandem could supply up to 3 Megawatts of power.
"By funding the LNG PowerPac project, the Federal Government is promoting the use of LNG as an alternative fuel at seaports," said Enak Ferlemann, Parliamentary Secretary at BMVI.
"The idea is to make apparent the advantages of the fuel of the future, liquefied natural gas or LNG, across systems in selected regional demonstration and pilot projects. By using LNG, the emission of nitrogen oxide can be almost completely eliminated when compared to conventional diesel engines."
The planned pilot project will take place in the Port of Hamburg.
In September 2014 Ship & Bunker reported that Becker had launched a barge based hybrid cold-ironing system.
