Last week, during the Board of Directors meeting, Huelva Port Authority approved the conditions companies should comply with when providing LNG as a fuel to vessels. As a result, the harbor becomes the first Spanish port in regulating the provision of this energy alternative.
The supply of this fuel will be a demand from the European Union for the ports that are part of the Trans-European Transport Network with the aim of promoting the consumption of a cleaner energy and reduce pollutant emissions release to the atmosphere. Similarly, the International Maritime Organization and the European Union have established a strict timetable for the reduction of harmful emissions into the atmosphere, so vessels will be obliged to use a more environmentally friendly fuel by 2020.
Thus, the Port of Huelva considers providing this alternative fuel as a business opportunity in order to expand its range of services and attract new traffic. In fact, this possibility is contained in the 2012-2017 Strategic Plan towards 2022, as the Port of Huelva can offer this service to both vessels calling at the port and other nearby ports which are not ready to provide with the fuel.
Also, the Port of Huelva has the advantage of having one of Spain’s largest LNG regasification plants, owned by Enagás, installed at the exterior port, as well as fuel supply companies for ships.
The president of Huelva Port Authority Manuela de Paz has welcomed the port’s commitment to move towards the liquefied natural gas supply foreseeing the potential demand in the international maritime sector in the near future.
Source: Port of Huelva.
