Over a hundred LNG specialists from various European ports, local governments and the private market, attended two LNG-Masterplan meetings in the Port of Rotterdam.
Meetings revolved around the matters of safety and strategy, Port of Rotterdam said in a statement.
Both meetings addressed the results achieved and the still remaining barriers for the implementation of LNG as a fuel for inland shipping.
Mark Bell, from the Society for Gas as a Marine Fuel said, “We have to be aware of what the public thinks. We have to educate the general public on the safety of LNG vessels. That is a challenge since track records don’t go back too long.”
After 3 years of activities in the Masterplan project, many LNG facilities are in place, but Matthé Bakker, of DNV GL says the lack of harmonisation does create confusion and rules can be interpreted in various ways.
Manfred Seitz from Pro Danube said a dialogue is ongoing with the EU about needed funding. The need and the urgency is clear and LNG is the most promising fuel for inland navigation.