In a bid to allow seagoing vessels to bunker LNG, the port of Rotterdam has made further steps in its plans to promote LNG as a shipping fuel.
The Port Authority has worked intensively with other ports to achieve a legislative amendment which enables LNG-fuelled vessels to bunker from an LNG bunkering vessel.
Harbour master René de Vries said:“That was a major condition of the general introduction of LNG. In the ten hours they stay in the port of Rotterdam, container ships should be able to bunker at the same time as they transfer cargo. This is only possible, if it happens ship-to-ship. And that is now possible.”
The new rules are based on national and international safety studies, laws, regulations, standards and best practice guidelines of other ports.
A subsidy of €40 million was awarded at the end of last year by the European Union to stimulate the use of LNG as a shipping fuel in European waters.
The aim of the Port of Rotterdam Authority is to promote the use of LNG as a shipping fuel and to become a leading LNG hub.
LNG is cheaper and cleaner for the environment than traditional fuel oil.
