Ports respond to growing interest in LNG as ships' fuel

wpci MARCH 11, 2013 — International ports are working together in response to growing shipping industry in the use of LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) as a fuel for vessels.

Some vessels today are already LNG-powered and more are on order. It is generally expected that by 2015 a number of shipping lines will have LNG-powered vessels in their fleets, presenting a challenge for ports around the world.

The International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) has set up an LNG Fueled Vessels Working Group under the auspices of its World Ports Climate Initiative (WPCI).

The Working Group is tasked among other things with developing guidelines on safe procedures for LNG bunkering operations, providing ports around the world with an implementation guideline, if they wish to pursue this technology.

The Port of Antwerp is chairing this initiative and representatives from the ports of Amsterdam, Bremen/Bremerhaven, Brunsbüttel, Gothenburg, Hamburg, Le Havre, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Rotterdam, Stockholm and Zeebrugge are also active participants in the Working Group. The Working Group maintains close contacts with industry stakeholders currently using and/or handling LNG, as well as government agencies.

The Working Group consists of three sub-Working Groups:

LNG Bunkering Checklist
LNG Bunkering Risk Perimeters
LNG Public Awareness

Industry and port partners are welcome

Participation in the Working Group is open to all ports, whether as active participant or as
member of the reference group. To obtain immediate feedback and to validate the outcomes, industry partners are invited to be part of the reference group. Industry experts are also invited to be active contributors and share their expertise in the sub-Working Group "LNG bunkering checklist."

Ports and industry stakeholders interested in participating in the Working Group should contact Ms. Tessa Major, Chair of the WPCI LNG Working Group. E-mail: tessa.major@portofantwerp.com

LNG will be the focus of technical committee and panel discussions at IAPH's 28th World Ports Conference May 6-10 at LA Live in downtown Los Angeles.