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LR collaborates with Portsmouth on LNG bunkering facility

LR collaborates with Portsmouth on LNG bunkering facility
Lloyd’s Register (LR) is working with Portsmouth International Port to help develop the UK’s first LNG bunkering facility.

The project will include identification of the technical requirements for the bunkering operation, the procedures for the safe handling and bunkering of volatile LNG, and training ahead of the introduction of new 0.1% sulphur regulations in the North Sea ECA on 1 January 2015.

"Obviously with growing demand for LNG, ports are looking to understand how they can develop the capability to deliver LNG bunkering services safely, said Leonidas Karistios, LR global gas technology manager. “It has to be safety first and Portsmouth is looking to ensure that they have the right, safe, approach to support operational and commercial ambitions.”

“With a city adjacent to the port, significant ferry traffic and a large naval presence, there are substantial and varied stakeholder aspects to be addressed."

The technology would initially be used to serve ferries and short-sea shipping, which would incur major costs due to remaining constantly in ECA waters. Ferry company DFDS recently announced that it would be closing its more-than-a-century old Harwich-Esbjerg route because of additional $3.4m annual fuel costs.

However, an LNG-fuelled Brittany Ferries newbuild slated for delivery in 2016 will call at Portsmouth for LNG bunkering. "With changes in the regulations governing emissions, it is clear that in the future more shipping will be fuelled by LNG,” commented Kalvin Baugh, Portsmouth deputy ferry port manager.

“To help safeguard the port and meet the needs of our customers, Portsmouth International Port needs to be able to offer this facility,” said Baugh. “Safety is of course the main priority, and we are delighted that Lloyd’s Register has agreed to help us identify the technical specifications and operating procedures that will help to deliver this."

Thanos Koliopulos, LR global special projects manager, cited previous involvement with LNG projects at Singapore Port as well as the world’s first LNG-powered passenger vessel Viking Grace. “We can help Portsmouth to get ready for real LNG bunkering operations, not only for ferry and short-sea shipping, but our global expertise and perspective can also help them to prepare for supporting LNG fuelled deep sea shipping requirements."

LNG bunkering in Portsmouth is the latest development in Europe in the space of little more than a week with the Port of Gothenburg, which last week announced it is cutting tariffs for LNG-fuelled vessels by 30%; as well as the Port of Rotterdam, which is seeing a major investment from Shell.