New Members Join LNG Bunkering Port Focus Group

The international LNG bunkering port focus group has gained three new port members. Image Credit: MPA

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) today announced that, in an effort to strengthen the network of liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunker-ready ports and promote the uptake of LNG as marine fuel, the Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan, Port of Marseille Fos, and Port of Vancouver have joined an international LNG bunkering port focus group.

As Ship & Bunker reported at the time, the focus group was originally formed in 2014 by MPA, Antwerp Port Authority, Port of Rotterdam, and Port of Zeebrugge.

Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan's participation was formalised today at a signing ceremony held at the sideline of the third Port Authorities' Roundtable (PAR) organised by the Ningbo Municipal Port Administration Bureau.

"The Port Authorities Roundtable, initiated by Singapore in 2015, is a useful high level platform to forge closer collaboration between ports based on like-minded interests. We are pleased that at this meeting, three more ports, including the first Chinese port, will be joining the LNG Bunkering Port Focus Group," said Andrew Tan, CEO at MPA.

"We welcome Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan, Port of Marseille Fos and Port of Vancouver to the network and look forward to working with them. We are confident that the inclusion of Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan will add further impetus to enable the uptake of LNG bunkering for the Far East-Europe and Intra-Asia trade routes for the future."

MPA notes that, with the latest expansion, the network now includes a total of eleven ports and maritime administrations across Asia, Europe, and North America.