Rotterdam looks to speed up LNG ship loading

Joint terminal owner Vopak, said it will increase the rate at the jetties from the current 2300 m3/hour to 4000 m3/hour which is a direct response to demands in the market.

This investment will allow Gate terminal to load the new standard size vessels of around 180000 m3 in less than three days.

Conversion work

The work will entail a de-bottlenecking of the pipeline systems used to deliver LNG from the storage tank to the ship which can be installed without a plant shutdown.

Construction will start in the summer of 2018 and will be finished sometime after the summer of 2019.

Vopak said that loading of LNG in ships and transshipment activities in North West Europe have increased over the years.

The liquid spot market of LNG has led to a demand for quicker loading and unloading periods requiring more flexibility and efficient operations from terminals.

With this new investment Vopak said that Gate terminal will strengthen its pivotal role as a leading LNG hub terminal for North West Europe.

Gate terminal consists of three storage tanks, two jetty’s and a process area where the LNG is regassified. The terminal’s functions are: receipt, a buffer between receipt and continuous supply of natural gas, regasification and supply.