EMEA News
Port of Antwerp Announces "Significant" LNG Bunkering Step
The Antwerp Port Authority says it has taken "a significant step forward" in its efforts to facilitate and encourage the use of liquified natural gas (LNG) as a bunker fuel by partnering with ship classification bureau Det Norske Veritas (DNV) to develop procedures for its LNG bunkering operations.
The partnership, which the Port said began at the end of January, will see DNV develop the procedures as an operational standard for the safe bunkering of LNG, as well as identify the potential risks when there are several LNG bunkering operations taking place simultaneously.
"With this measure the Antwerp Port Authority underscores its ambition to safely and efficiently offer LNG to ships in Antwerp's port by 2015, when the stricter IMO sulphur emission standards come into force," it said in the press release on the matter.
The port said that while they would be specifically tailored for the port of Antwerp, the procedures will also be made available to other European ports which also wish to offer LNG bunkers.
Earlier this month the port said it was one of a dozen European and U.S. ports that have formed a working group to develop guidelines for safe LNG bunkering.
