The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) has welcomed the outcome of the recent European Parliament Transport Committee with regard to the deployment of a sufficient network of liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuelling station in the main TEN-T ports.
ESPO secretary general, Isabelle Ryckbost, commented: “We believe the Rapporteur has taken the right approach. He supports the deployment of LNG, but makes the proposals more realistic by proposing to take into account both the existing bunkering market realities and the distances between ports into account.”
Electricity refuelling
However, ESPO has questioned the introduction of a strict obligation for the core TEN-T ports to provide shore side electricity to vessels needing over 1 MWA in berths located within 3 km of residential areas. The organization has highlighted that port feasibility studies indicate that shore side electricity is not a universal solution, and therefore should not be imposed across the board. It should, however, be promoted where it is beneficial for the environment and cost effective.
Ryckbost added: “We do understand the support for shore side electricity in the Parliament. European ports have been actively supporting this technology and exploring the possibility of providing shore side electricity in their berths. This has in cases lead to successful implementation projects. However, in other cases port feasibility studies show a lack of significant environmental benefits and disproportionate high investment costs. We are therefore convinced that any investment on shore side electricity needs to be justified through local feasibility studies and not imposed through a strict obligation.”
Adapted from press release by Katie Woodward