Finnish gas company Gasum has reached an agreement with Swedish gas grid owner Swedegas to use the latter’s facility for liquefied gas in the Port of Gothenburg for bunkering of LNG fueled vessels.
On October 24, the first bunkering operation involving the oil and chemical tanker Tern Ocean was carried out. Tern Ocean is chartered by Preem and the ship loaded its cargo simultaneously from Preem’s refinery in Gothenburg.
“For years we have bunkered LNG at the quayside from diversified delivery points in the Nordics,” Jacob Granqvist, sales director in Gasum, said.
“The benefit of the Swedegas set-up is that our customers can solve two issues at the same time, both getting fuel and handle cargo. Increased operational efficiency is important in the maritime sector and we are happy to make it possible,” he added.
As explained, Swedegas’ gas infrastructure at the jetty of the Energy Port in Gothenburg enables Gasum to broaden its services to meet the increasing LNG demand in the maritime sector. This demand comes from stricter climate and environmental goals in the sector.
The LNG facility can be used for the storage and transport of biogas. This means that vessels can bunker not only LNG but also liquefied biogas (LBG). LBG is renewable and can as well be used as vessel fuel.
LNG consumption within the global maritime sector is rising. Consumption is expected to accelerate even more rapidly, as compliance with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2020 sulphur regulation, which requires over 85% reduction in sulphur emissions, comes into effect next year. IMO has also set a target to reduce GHG emissions by at least 50% by 2050.
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