Port of Antwerp partners EXMAR to develop LNG bunkering

The port authority appointed EXMAR following a tender and due to its much reduced emissions said LNG was considered to be the ship fuel of the future. The port and EXMAR are also collaborating to design and build an LNG bunker tanker , to be constructed in early 2014.

“The Port Authority wishes to not only encourage but also to facilitate the use of LNG as ship fuel because of the associated environmental- and sustainable benefits,” said port of Antwerp ceo Eddy Bruyninckx. “The Port Authority therefore wants to ensure that ships calling the port of Antwerp are able to bunker LNG as ship fuel as from 2015. The Port Authority’s ambition to position itself as a sustainable port is herewith put into action.”

Exmar ceo Nicolas Saverys said “EXMAR is very pleased to work together with the Port Authority on developing LNG bunkering in Antwerp. EXMAR considers LNG bunkering as a strategic target market for the coming years. Independent studies indicate that the LNG bunkering market has a worldwide potential of an additional tens of millions of tonnes of LNG per year by 2020.”