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EVOL LNG carries out Australia’s first bunkering operation

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LNG Industry,


EVOL LNG has announced that it has carried out Australia’s first commercial LNG bunkering operation.

Under an agreement with Woodside, on 23 January 2017, EVOL LNG refuelled the Siem Thiima platform supply vessel at King Bay Supply Base near Dampier. Then, on 19 February, the first LNG bunkering operation at Freemantle Port was executed.

Nick Rea, Business Manager, said: “Our decision to enter the LNG bunkering market is part of a long-term strategy that recognises environmental and economic sustainability of LNG as a transport fuel.

“It also recognises that the LNG marine fuel market is still in development so the fact EVOL has over 15 years’ experience in distributing LNG means we saw an opportunity to provide a suite of services that perhaps others can’t.

“EVOL can safely manage the bunkering process plus provide key services such as training in safe handling of LNG, enabling our customers to confidently adopt LNG as a marine fuel.

“With growing demand for lower emission fuels over the past decade, we’ve seen the number of LNG- fuelled ships in operation worldwide increase steadily from a handful to more than 75, with an additional 80 expected to be built in the next three years.”

“Interest in LNG as a marine fuel is growing, especially since the IMO announced that it would introduce a global marine fuel sulfur limit of 0.5% from 2020.

“LNG is a cleaner fuel than marine diesel, emitting 25% less carbon dioxide, less nitrogen oxides and almost zero sulfur oxides and particulates, which largely addresses emission concerns for the shipping industry and avoids expensive and complicated scrubbing systems.”

“It’s certainly an offering we’d like to expand, particularly as truck-to-ship LNG bunkering can be achieved relatively inexpensively with existing logistics assets.”

“If interest is there, EVOL LNG will obtain licences from other major Australian and regional WA ports to conduct LNG bunkering operations, and look at investing in infrastructure to meet the market’s needs.”

Rea added that EVOL LNG would be capable of supplying Freemantle customers with LNG at a rate of 45 tph, which is comparable to traditional bunker fuels.

EVOL LNG attained its second major Australian port bunkering licence from Pilbara Ports Authority, allowing LNG bunkering at King Bay Supply Base and transport through the Port of Dampier. This followed its first licence from Fremantle Ports in July 2016.

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/liquid-natural-gas/02032017/evol-lng-carries-out-australias-first-bunkering-operation/

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