Port of Antwerp Gets Practical About LNG Bunkering

The Port of Antwerp Port Authority has appointed ship owning company EXMAR as its strategic partner in a plan to provide LNG bunkering in the port.

Through their strategic alliance, the Port Authority and EXMAR want to facilitate the use of LNG as ship fuel, and to that end both partners plan to start with the actual construction of a LNG bunkership early 2014.

Mr. Eddy Bruyninckx, CEO of the port of Antwerp, said: “The Port Authority wishes to not only encourage but also to facilitate the use of LNG as ship fuel because of the associated environmental- and sustainable benefits. The Port Authority therefore wants to ensure that ships calling the port of Antwerp are able to bunker LNG as ship fuel as from 2015. By calling on the LNG expertise of EXMAR, LNG shall be offered as a ship fuel in a safe and efficient manner. The Port Authority’s ambition to position itself as a sustainable port is herewith put into action.”

Mr. Nicolas Saverys, CEO of EXMAR, adds: “EXMAR is very pleased to work together with the Port Authority on developing LNG bunkering in Antwerp. EXMAR considers LNG bunkering as a strategic target market for the coming years. Independent studies indicate that the LNG bunkering market has a worldwide potential of an additional tens of millions of tonnes of LNG per year by 2020. Given its unique LNG expertise in i.a. the transfer of LNG via flexible hoses, EXMAR is perfectly placed to position itself in this new LNG bunkering market and thus substantially contribute to the further reduction of ship emissions.”