Ports of Stockholm has become one of the first ports in the world to offer a bunkering infrastructure solution for the provision of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to large passenger ferries. A successful collaboration involving AGA, Viking Line, Ports of Stockholm and the appropriate government agencies has made an infrastructure for bunkering possible.
"Our new passenger ferry, M/S Viking Grace, represents an environmental milestone, and the ability to provide LNG bunkering opportunities is a very important piece of the jigsaw in our environmental work. That is why we are very pleased that the solution for LNG bunkering is now in place," explains Viking Line's Technical Director, Tony Öhman.
"It is very rewarding that, thanks to our LNG terminal in Nynäshamn and our bunkering vessel Seagas, we can contribute to an infrastructure that has made it possible for M/S Viking Grace to bunker LNG from vessel to vessel at Ports of Stockholm. LNG provides major environmental benefits in comparison to traditional maritime fuels," says Jan Bäckvall, CEO of AGA AB.
"We are extremely proud to be able to offer LNG at Ports of Stockholm. Together with Viking Line and AGA we have solved the important permit issues, built an infrastructure and established good bunkering procedures. We will also be able to utilise this experience in future LNG infrastructure solutions," says Helena Bonnier, Chair of the Board of Directors at Ports of Stockholm.
On 20 March 2013 Helena Bonnier performed the naming ceremony to launch Seagas, the new AGA bunkering vessel. Seagas will be stationed at Loudden and will provide M/S Viking Grace with LNG on a daily basis, using an entirely new vessel to vessel bunkering process.
LNG facts
LNG - Liquefied Natural Gas, is natural gas in liquid form. Liquefied natural gas is a solution that allows efficient transport of natural gas to areas without the need for gas pipelines. Today natural gas is already an important energy source. Twenty five percent of global energy provision and twenty percent of Europe's energy provision comes from natural gas.
In the near future the international regulations for how much sulphur and nitrogen emissions can be released by vessels in the Baltic Sea region will become more stringent. Complying with the new regulations will be a great challenge for shipping. LNG has major environmental benefits compared to traditional maritime fuels; carbon dioxide emissions are reduced by 20 to 30 percent, sulphur emissions and harmful particles are eliminated completely and nitrous oxide emissions are significantly lower.
Source: Ports of Stockholm