At first
Bunkering means supplying fuel to vessels. This is usually carried out in seaports. A transition to cleaner fuels is now under way in the shipping sector. Until a few years ago, ships were powered exclusively by fossil fuels. But then Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) also became available for seagoing vessels.
In the Joint Nautical Management (GNB) area, a pilot project is currently under way aimed at bunkering LNG at anchorages on the Western Scheldt. So on the river instead of in port, which is a first.
Because LNG bunkering on rivers has never taken place before, the Joint Nautical Authority (GNA) is issuing a licence for one year. After this trial has been evaluated, LNG bunkering on the river may or may not continue.
Titan LNG submitted the application and the GNA drew up a recommendation together with the Zeeland Safety Region. The Permanent Commission for Supervision of the Scheldt Navigation has approved this recommendation. The municipality of Borssele has also been notified.
“We are ready for LNG bunkering on the river. It took place successfully for the first time on 30 December,” says Eric Adan, dutch head of the Joint Nautical Authority. “The use of LNG means there are no emissions of sulphur oxides (SOx). It also means a major reduction in other harmful substances, such as nitrogen oxides (NOx). The demand for LNG bunkering came from the market. Until now, it only involved bunkering fossil fuels before ships continue their voyage. ”
Special Conditions
Bunkering is only possible at the anchorages ‘Charlie’ and ‘Delta’ of the Everingen under the following conditions:
• Wind force: max. 6 Bft
• Wave height: max. 1.2 metres
• The bunker vessel must be moored with sufficient mooring lines and spring lines
• A safety zone of 75 metres around the bunker vessel and seagoing vessel within which no other shipping traffic takes place
• A zone of 150 metres around the bunker vessel and seagoing vessel in which all traffic must pass carefully.