EMEA News
Antwerp Chooses EXMAR as LNG Bunkering Partner
The Antwerp Port Authority said in a press release today it has chosen ship owner EXMAR as its partner in developing liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering at the Belgian port.
The two parties will work together to develop an LNG bunkership, with construction of the ship starting in early 2014, and will also perform several studies concerning the fuel.
"The Port Authority wishes to not only encourage but also to facilitate the use of LNG as ship fuel because of the associated environmental- and sustainable benefits," said port CEO Eddy Bruyninckx.
"The Port Authority therefore wants to ensure that ships calling the port of Antwerp are able to bunker LNG as ship fuel as from 2015."
"EXMAR considers LNG bunkering as a strategic target market for the coming years," said Nicolas Saverys, CEO of the company, which is based in Antwerp and owns LNG and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers.
"Independent studies indicate that the LNG bunkering market has a worldwide potential of an additional tens of millions of tonnes of LNG per year by 2020."
Saverys said EXMAR's experience with the transfer of LNG through flexible hoses will help it contribute to the new field of LNG bunkering.
Antwerp began truck-to-ship bunkering in December 2012 and has received European Union funding to develop an LNG bunkering station.
