A pilot for the bunkering of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) via the ‘Truck to Ship’ method has been successfully launched in the port of Vlissingen.
The pilot commenced with a ship being refuelled with LNG bunker fuel from a truck on the quay in the port.
In October of 2015, Chemgas approached Zeeland Seaports to examine the potential for LNG bunkering via the Truck to Ship method. This led to the development of a plan titled ‘Pilot LNG bunkering Truck to Ship’, in cooperation with regional safety and environmental associations.
Prior to being bunkered, LNG is first liquefied through a cooling process of -162 °C. At this temperature and atmospheric pressure, the gas condenses to a liquid, thus reducing the volume by 600 times (in comparison to gaseous state), and the gas can be more easily transported and stored.
Zeeland Seaports will now determine whether consistent LNG bunkering will be realised in the port based on the results of the pilot, which will last until the end of 2016.
The bunkering of LNG in Zeeland will increase the attractiveness of the ports and significantly reduce CO2 and nitrogen emissions. Zeeland Seaports’ recently presented Strategic Master Plan includes the objective to realise facilities or solutions for LNG bunkering and become a major player in the LNG chain by 2020.
Image: Courtesy of Zeeland Seaports
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