The European Union will co-finance with over €250,000 from the TEN-T Programme a project to convert an existing vessel into a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) bunkering ship so that it may be used to refuel other ships.
The project, which takes place in the Port of Stockholm and contributes to the realisation of the Motorways of the Sea (TEN-T Priority Project 21), aims to demonstrate the feasibility of using alternative fuels in shipping.
The project, which was selected for funding under the 2011 TEN-T Annual Call, involves converting the existing “Fjalir” vessel into an LNG bunkering ship. It will be used for providing LNG fuel to a new M/S Viking Grace ferry in the Port of Stockholm and later also to other ships. This bunkering vessel will be a flexible alternative to other state of the art technologies as well as larger scale, land- based fuelling infrastructure. LNG is rapidly emerging as a more environmentally friendly fuel for the maritime sector and its uptake is encouraged by the European Union.
The bunkering vessel will be tested with 1,000 tonnes of LNG, corresponding to a reduction of 300 tonnes of CO2 and 10 tonnes of SO2 in terms of equivalent emissions from traditional shipping fuels. The test results will be measured in close collaboration with the Swedish Transport Agency and the County Administrative Board, whom is the main authority in charge of environmental permits.
The results will enable the potential of such a bunkering vessel to be evaluated as well as the need for future permits to be defined with regards to an increasing use of LNG as a fuel in the shipping industry.
The project is set to be completed by December 2013.
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European Commission, January 13, 2013; Image: TEN-T Executive Agency