EMEA News
Rhine Port Group Hails "Big Step Forward in LNG Safety"
Port of Antwerp Wednesday said the results of a Rhine Port Group study are "a big step forward in LNG [Liquefied Natural Gas] safety in Europe."
It is understood that the study has been devised to inform emergency service, particularly fire departments and port authority responders, as to how best to prepare for managing possible LNG incidents on inland navigation along the Rhine-Main-Danube corridor.
The study is said to consist of two parts, including first a desktop review of existing technology and state of readiness at the Rhine Port Group ports, which include the Ports of Rotterdam, Antwerp, Mannheim, Strasbourg and Switzerland.
Secondly, the study covers guidelines for LNG incident preparedness education and training.
The study was commissioned under the auspices of the European Union (EU) "LNG Masterplan for Rhine-Main-Danube" programme and was conducted by Falck RISC and the Unified Fire Department, who were chosen for their specialist knowledge in LNG technology and inland waterway navigation.
Port of Antwerp said the report highlights that there is already a lot of expertise within the EU for responding to LNG incidents, but was a necessary exercise since the recent introduction of LNG cargoes on European inland waterways was "a new phenomenon" for emergency services and port authorities.
"We were very pleased to execute this study," said Falck RISC Managing Director, Robbert van der Veen.
"I truly believe the bottom line - for now - is that people who are in need of this knowledge and these insights are enabled to get professional upgrade LNG emergency response education and practical training.
"This gap should be given highest priority."
Port of Antwerp added that LNG safety "is a hot topic, now that LNG is more and more becoming the fuel of the future."
This month, the head of Maersk Maritime Technology said the group is "definitely looking into LNG."
