Antwerp Port Authority teams up with DNV to support LNG as shipping fuel

“We are committed to the highest standards of safety in this venture and anticipate strong growth in LNG with the right infrastructure and the best operational practices,” said Eddy Bruyninckx, CEO of Antwerp Port Authority. “We expect to increase use of LNG particularly in the short-sea sector where ships will be operating in IMO Emission Control Areas for much of their voyages, and by 2020, as many as every second new ships might be built to use LNG as fuel.”

In the next few months DNV will develop procedures as an operational standard for the safe bunkering of LNG as a shipping fuel in the port. In addition to this, it will identify the potential risks when there are several LNG-powered ships in Antwerp and consequently several LNG bunkering operations are taking place simultaneously. The developed bunkering procedures will contain measures that cover the port and also the wider community and environment.

Meanwhile, the Antwerp Port Authority continues to actively work to be able to receive LNG-powered vessels. In March 2012 it published a tender for the design and ultimately the construction of an LNG bunkering vessel. This vessel should be operational by 2015 and will be able to deal with the LNG demand of seagoing ships in the Antwerp port. Negotiations with the candidates for this sizeable contract are currently ongoing.

Source: DNV/Antwerp Port Authority