LNG Bunkering Booming in Rotterdam Port

Port of Rotterdam to grant nine  licenced liquified natural gas (LNG) bunkering licences by 2020, a port official has said.

Six of the licenses are already for regular use in port LNG bunker operations to refuel LNG-powered cruise, cargo, tanker and container vessels, said Cees Boon, Senior Policy Advisor at the Harbourmaster Policy Department of the Port of Rotterdam. Three licenses will be for bunker vessels that will operate on the spot market.

“By using best practice guidelines in the IAPH audit tool developed by ports for port authorities, licenses to operate can be efficiently assessed and granted to professional LNG bunker operators looking to provide their services across several ports,” he added.

Cees is also a member of the IAPH Clean Marine Fuels Working Group which put together the audit tool with the support of the industry. This includes an oil major, a key operator, a classification society, LNG bunker owner-operators and some of the world’s largest port authorities.