The Rotterdam Port Management Bye-laws have been amended to enable LNG bunkering of seagoing ships at the Port of Rotterdam.
Up to now, only inland shipping could do this in the Seinehaven. Port of Rotterdam Authority says its aim is to promote the use of LNG as shipping fuel and to become a leading LNG hub.
Rotterdam Port Authority has worked hard with other ports over the past two years to achieve a legislative amendment which enabled LNG-fuelled vessels to bunker from an LNG bunkering vessels.
“That was a major condition of the general introduction of LNG. In the 10 hours they stay in the Port of Rotterdam, container ships should be able to bunker at the same time as they transfer cargo. This is only possible if it happens ship-to-ship. And now that is possible,” said René de Vries, Harbour Master.
The new rules also imply that LNG may only be bunkered at designated locations within the Municipality of Rotterdam.
The Port Authority also previously supported an initiative of Gate to open an LNG terminal on the Maasvlakte in 2011. Facilities in the Seinehaven were opened last year allowing inland shipping to bunker LNG from an LNG tanker.
These initiatives have been warmly received by the European Union, which awarded a €40m subsidy last year to stimulate the use of LNG as shipping fuel on European waters. This concerns the LNG Masterplan for Rhine-Main-Danube, in which the Port Authority plays an important role. The Dutch LNG Platform also supports the use of LNG by trucks, inland and seagoing shipping.
It’s anticipated that many ports will follow Rotterdam’s example.
