Rotterdam LNG terminal expansion

Gate terminal and its shareholders Gasunie and Vopak said that these small LNG vessels will enable distribution to LNG terminals in other North Sea and Baltic ports where large LNG tankers are prohibited to deliver directly due to their draught.

Frits Eulderink COO and member of the Executive Board of Vopak, said: “The further extension of Gate terminal offers our customers much greater flexibility and efficiency and reinforces the terminal’s leading position in the LNG small-scale segment.”

Both shareholders Gasunie and Vopak support the continued expansion of Gate terminal as a platform for the distribution of LNG to users in shipping, industry and truck transport. They said that the project is key to facilitate LNG storage and to secure LNG supply in Northwest European ports under the EU ‘motorways of the sea’ concept.

Importantly, the expansion will also make it easier for ocean-going vessels to fill up with LNG in Rotterdam because the fuel can be pumped on board large ocean-going vessels using bunker vessels. These can now be loaded at Gate terminal which receives LNG from large LNG tankers.

The use of LNG as a maritime fuel is being encouraged by the European Union, the Dutch government and the Port of Rotterdam. The port is also is encouraging the use of LNG as a maritime fuel by giving discount on harbour dues.