Gothenburg behind green bunkering push

The bill, produced in association with the Swedish Shipowners’ Association and the bunkering industry, aims to enforce all bunker operators to undergo special training, carry the necessary equipment and do regular pressure testing to prevent oil spills.

The Port of Gothenburg wants to see green bunkering adopted nationally in Sweden. It introduced its rules for the process back in 1999, so it has taken a long time for a bill to be realised.

Joel Smith, senior manager operations at the Port of Gothenburg, said: “Thanks to the rules, bunkering has become safer and emissions have in effect ceased completely – the port guidelines should be applied on a national level.”

Green bunkering is so important because a safe process is crucial when it comes to preventing oil leaks. The Port of Gothenburg is a major bunkering harbour and each year between 1.2 and 2 million tonnes of fuel are supplied to vessels in the harbour or at sea.