New regulations for LNG bunkering have been introduced by the Gothenburg Port Authority in collaboration with the Port of Rotterdam to allow ships to bunker LNG fuel at the Port of Gothenburg.
New bunkering regulations for ships operating on LNG have been drafted by the Gothenburg Port Authority and the Port of Rotterdam together with the Swedish Transport Agency. The regulations will allow cargo ships to bunker LNG at a cargo terminal and are the first general regulations to be introduced in Sweden.
Dan-Erik Andersson, Vice President Operations at the Port of Gothenburg Energy Port, said: “We firmly believe that LNG is the marine fuel of the future. The new regulations will have a key role to play in bringing added momentum to our region.
“It is particularly pleasing that many ports in Sweden and in other countries have shown great interest in what we have done and are formulating their regulations using our regulations as a template. Even public agencies such as the US Coastguard have contacted us and are interested in an exchange of knowledge.”
Sulphur and particle emissions are reduced to almost zero, nitrogen emissions are reduced by 85-90% and carbon dioxide emissions by 25% when using LNG fuel.
By next year, the Port of Gothenburg will be visited regularly by LNG-powered ships.
Dan-Erik Andersson continued: “We expect to receive a visit from an LNG-powered ship once or twice a week next year and many will take the opportunity to bunker in Gothenburg.”
At the turn of the year a new port tariff was introduced at the Port of Gothenburg, which means that LNG-powered ships will receive a 30% discount on the port charge when they visit the port.
Dan-Erik Andersson concluded: “Our considerably discounted port charge, together with the new regulations, will provide an excellent incentive for our shipping company clients to switch from oil to LNG.”
Fact File: The Port of Gothenburg is the largest port in the Nordic region. 30% of Swedish foreign trade passes through the Port of Gothenburg as well as 60% of all container traffic. The Port of Gothenburg is the only port in Sweden with the capacity to receive the world's largest container vessels and has the broadest range of shipping routes within and outside Europe.
