World first procedures for LNG bunkering

The new Municipal Police Regulations, Port Guidelines and associated forms came into force on 9 March 2014. For the first time ever the regulations include specific procedures for LNG bunkering. With these procedures the Port Authority aims to ensure that bunkering with LNG is carried out as safely as possible. This work forms part of the Port Authority’s goal of sustainable development.

The fuel of the future

The emerging use of LNG as a ship’s fuel is considerably more environment-friendly than the diesel fuels currently used. Emissions of sulfur in particular are significantly lower, but when it comes to other pollutants too such as NOx and particulates, LNG is a stronger performer.

Although ships are much more energy efficient than other forms of transport, their greenhouse gas emissions still pose a challenge for the international fight against global warming. For this reason a new International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulation – IMO – Marpol annex VI – comes into force in 2015 for reducing ships’ emissions in the Emission Control Area (ECA) covering the North Sea, Baltic Sea and English Channel where there are stricter controls on the use of bunker oil. The new IMO regulations focus mainly on reducing the sulfur content of bunker oil and other ship’s fuels. The use of LNG is seen as one solution for attaining the required standards.

Development and updating of procedures

Antwerp Port Authority decided last year to promote and facilitate the use of LNG as ship’s fuel. The Norwegian classification society Det Norske Veritas (DNV) was asked to develop procedures to serve as operational standards for bunkering with LNG in a safe manner. It also investigated the possible risks of parallel LNG bunkering operations in the port.

The procedures developed by DNV for the Port of Antwerp were presented to 50 or so stakeholders, both within the port and internationally, and their feedback was taken into account in finalising the procedures. These will also be made available to other European courts that similarly wish to make LNG available.

Eddy Bruyninckx, CEO of Antwerp Port Authority, said: “Since the technology for LNG bunkering is still in its early days we expect to build up new know-how during the implementation stage, and the procedures will be refined and updated on an ongoing basis.” The forms in the police regulations for handling LNG will also be regularly updated to keep them in line with the state-of-the-art in safe bunkering with LNG.

Construction of an LNG bunkering vessel

After a European call for tenders in 2013, Antwerp Port Authority appointed the Exmar shipping company as its strategic partner with which it will collaborate closely for construction of an LNG bunkering vessel, including the required preliminary studies.

With these initiatives the Port of Antwerp seeks to further confirm its pioneering role in the field of LNG.

Adapted from press release by Ted Monroe

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/lng-shipping/11032014/port_of_antwerp_publishes_procedures_for_lng_bunkering/