LNG is being championed by an Arabian Gulf port in what is a regional first initiative.
Qatar Petroleum’s Ras Laffan Port has become the first port in the Arabian Gulf to join the international Green Award network as an incentive provider for certified LNG carriers.
Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, Qatar's Minister of State for Energy Affairs and president and CEO of Qatar Petroleum, described the initiative as “another landmark in Qatar Petroleum’s long standing commitment to environmentally sustainable practices in its operations".
He added: “Through the Green Award for shipping, we are also building upon QPs’ track record of providing environmentally friendly energy by supporting sustainable practices in shipping as well.”
Rewarding green investment
Qatar Petroleum and the Green Award Foundation have worked closely to realise this incentive to reward and recognise the efforts and investments of LNG ships that are adopting the latest environmental standards.
Ras Laffan Port believes that through this framework, certified tankers will continually strive to improve the environmental performance of their operations. Certified LNG tanker operators under the Green Award scheme will now be offered a discount on port dues, making Ras Laffan Port the first in the region to do so.
The port plays an integral role in providing international markets with LNG as an environmentally friendly source of energy. With more than 1,000 LNG tankers calling at the port annually, its track record in promoting environmentally sustainable practices in shipping has been well established since its inception in 1996. Since then, Ras Laffan Port has also worked closely with Qatargas to support the certification of their LNG shipping fleet.
