Singapore's MPA furthers LNG Bunkering discussions with European Port Authorities

All three ports said that they saw LNG as the future of the shipping industry.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has met with the ports of Antwerp, Rotterdam, and Zeebrugge to further hammer down standards and procedures for liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering.

The three Dutch and Belgian port authorities and Singapore last week met during the Singapore International Bunkering Conference and Exhibition (SIBCON) to examine how best to harmonise standards among ports. 

"Given the international nature of shipping, we are excited to work with the Antwerp Port Authority, Port of Rotterdam and Port of Zeebrugge, to harmonize the global LNG bunkering standards," said Andrew Tan, Chief Executive of the MPA.

"We have made good progress in our discussions and will continue with our efforts to prepare the Port of Singapore to be ready for LNG bunkering in the near future.”

All three ports said that they saw LNG as the future of the shipping industry, having already made motions to establish LNG projects or frameworks. 

“Antwerp has the ambition to be the most sustainable port in the Hamburg-Le Havre range. Being sustainable is not a trend for the port of Antwerp, it has become a way of managing our port," said Eddy Bruyninckx, CEO of the Port of Antwerp.  

Bruyninckx said that the port is currently considering building a LNG bunker ship in addition to looking for candidates to build and operate a LNG bunker station for barges.

Port of Zeebrugge CEO Joachim Coens said that it was currently in the midst of adjusting port regulations to accommodate LNG bunkering. 

“LNG is without any doubt one of the best possible options to cope with the forthcoming IMO emission limits. Zeebrugge aims to play a lead role in the evolution of LNG fuelling."

Singapore also recently announced subsidies for a pilot LNG bunkering project and the introduction of mass flow meters