EMEA News
Flogas Bunkers MV Ireland, Hails UK LNG Bunkering First
Flogas Britain (Flogas) and Associated British Ports (ABP) have partnered to bunker the MV Ireland with liquefied natural gas (LNG) - said to be a first in the UK, Ship Management International reports.
"We're very pleased to have partnered with the country's leading port operator, ABP, to turn vision into reality; our specialist expertise and theirs have come together perfectly to make this the success we knew it could be," said Lee Gannon, Managing Director at Flogas.
"We're looking forward to working with ABP and other prospective partners on future projects – especially as the popularity of LNG continues to gather pace in the maritime industry, in line with an increasing focus on reducing environmental impact."
The new ship-to-ship service is said to offer the flexibility needed to meet current demand, with Flogas intending to invest in storage and bunkering facilities at ABP ports as the LNG bunker market grows.
"We are proud to be a key part of this flagship operation, which has really put the UK on the map as the latest European hub for more climate-friendly bunkering," said Mark Frith, Port Manager for ABP Immingham and Grimsby.
"Demand is already beginning to shift away from oil across the international fleet, and we very much see natural gas taking its place as the marine fuel of choice. We look forward to welcoming increasing numbers of ships to Immingham as a result of our new and unique offering in partnership with Flogas."
As Ship & Bunker has reported, the LNG-powered MV Ireland is part of a joint venture between Erik Thun AB and KG Jebsen Cement and is said to be one of the first such vessels in the world.
