ESPO welcomes LNG refuelling strategy

The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) has welcomed the first reading agreement on the EU Clean Fuel Strategy.

Clean Fuel Strategy

Negotiators for the EU Parliament and Council reached an informal agreement on the Clean Fuel Strategy, part of which addresses the provision of LNG refuelling infrastructure. If the EP’s Transport Committee and Plenary confirm the agreement, the Directive could still be adopted before the EU elections.

ESPO Secretary-General, Isabelle Ryckbost, commented: “We would like to congratulate the negotiators for reaching this agreement. European ports and stakeholders now have a clear view of what is expected from them and can start or continue working towards that goal. The obligations foreseen in this Directive imply quite some investments and planning for the port authorities and port industry.

Maritime transport

“We are convinced that this Directive together with the funding opportunities that will be offered under the forthcoming TEN-T calls will enhance the use of cleaner fuels in maritime transport in a realistic way. We also believe that a lot of ports will not wait for 2025 to meet the obligations of this Directive.”

The two issues of importance to ports in the Directive are the framework for the supply of shore side electricity and obligations regarding the provision of refuelling points for LNG in ports.

LNG refuelling points

If adopted, the new legislation would require that EU Member States must ensure that an appropriate number of LNG refuelling points is put in place at maritime ports. This would ensure that LNG-powered ships could move freely between TEN-T network maritime ports by the end of 2025, and between TEN-T network inland waterway ports by the end of 2030.

Edited from various sources by Katie Woodward

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/lng-shipping/21032014/espo_welcomes_lng_refuelling_strategy_322/