The technology group Wärtsilä began the commissioning phase at the Tornio Manga liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminal in Northern Finland following the unloading of the first shipment.
The shipment, comprising 15,000 cubic meters of LNG, arrived onboard the LNG carrier Coral Energy, a time-chartered LNG carrier operated by Skangas, and was completed on Monday, November 27, Wärtsilä said.
The cooldown process of the terminal and the LNG unloading process were completed on schedule over a period of 8 days, with all safety procedures fully secured.
The LNG from the terminal will be used to provide energy for local and regional industries in Northern Finland, Sweden and Norway, and will provide bunkering for LNG fueled ships visiting the northern Baltic Sea waters. The commercial operation of the terminal will begin in summer 2018.
Coral Energy, which delivered this first shipment, is a medium-sized LNG carrier vessel, powered by Wärtsilä dual-fuel engines operating on natural gas fuel. The Coral Energy has an ice-class 1A class notification, thus, enabling LNG transportation to the Nordic region also in winter conditions.
It is expected that more and more vessels operating in this part of the Baltic Sea will be powered by LNG fuel in order to comply with the Sulphur Emission Control Area (SECA) regulations.
The world’s first LNG icebreaker, the Polaris, also driven by Wärtsilä dual-fuel engines, will be bunkered from the Tornio Manga terminal during this winter season already, Wärtsilä said
The next shipment of LNG is scheduled for delivery to the Tornio Manga terminal at the beginning of 2018. When in full operation, the terminal will receive deliveries of LNG at two-week intervals.
The company released a video of the first LNG delivery to the terminal which can be viewed below.