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Gate terminal expanding

Published by , Senior Editor
LNG Industry,


Gate terminal and its shareholders Gasunie and Vopak have announced that the LNG terminal at the Maasvlakte in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, has been expanded to include a third berth.

The LNG terminal also has infrastructure in place for the loading of small LNG vessels, which will enable distribution to LNG terminals in other North Sea and Baltic ports where large LNG tankers are prohibited to deliver directly due to their draught.

In conjunction with LNG bunker vessels, the new berth will also make it easier for ocean-going vessels to fill up with LNG in Rotterdam in the future.The use of LNG as a maritime fuel is being encouraged by the EU, the Dutch government and the Port of Rotterdam because of its more environmentally-friendly properties.

The Port of Rotterdam has developed a new 255 m long, 150 m wide and 75 m deep Yukon Harbour adjacent to Gate terminal. The third berth of Gate terminal is built on this new quay wall and it can handle vessels of up to 180 m in length. The Port of Rotterdam is encouraging the use of LNG as a maritime fuel by offering a discount on harbour dues.

As launching customer, Shell has reserved part of the capacity for the loading of small vessels including a bunker vessel that has been ordered. This combination will enable vessels in Rotterdam to be efficiently provided with LNG fuel in the near future.

Ulco Vermeulen, Director Participation and Business Development and Member of the Executive Board of Gasunie, said: “Gate terminal adds again new functionality to the LNG supply chain by commissioning the new berth. The loading and distribution of smaller parcels will become more efficient. It will stimulate the use of LNG as maritime and road transport fuel tremendously. This supports the transport sector to improve its environmental performance greatly. Local European industries not connected to the gas grid will have easier access to LNG as clean fuel alternative.”

Frits Eulderink, COO and member of the Executive Board of Vopak, commented: "Facilitating the LNG market with a safe and efficient infrastructure and operation wholly suits the long-¬term strategy of Vopak. The further extension of Gate terminal offers our customers much greater flexibility and efficiency and reinforces the terminal's leading position in the LNG small scale segment."

Rolf Brouwer, Managing Director Gate terminal, added: "The safe completion of the project without accidents or other incidents was possible thanks to the huge efforts of the Gate terminal project team, all staff and the numerous employees and subcontractors working for Actemium, Chubb, Fabricom, Fluor, Future Pipe Industry, G+H, lemants, Kaefer, Mourik and PRS. At the very height of the project, more than 300 people of 10 different nationalities were working together towards a single objective: the safe and successful completion of the project. This resulted in a fantastic new berth and 400 000 accident-free hours worked, for which I would like to thank everyone involved."

Gate terminal confirmed that this project was funded by the European Investment Bank, as well as four other banks. The project is key to facilitate LNG storage and to secure LNG supply in Northwest European ports, such as Gothenburg, Sweden. The maritime connection between Rotterdam and these ports is regarded as a part of the EU 'motorways of the sea' concept and has therefore been selected for co-financing under the EU’s TEN-T programme.

Edited from press release by

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/small-scale-lng/30082016/gate-terminal-expanding-2968/

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