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Spain's Reganosa, operator of the LNG import terminal at Mugardos [pictured] in the Ferrol region of north-west Spain, considers liquefied natural gas (LNG) could be used as a marine fuel for the region's fishing fleet, Natural Gas Europe reports.

Carlos Vales, Reganosa's Production Manager, said in a recent interview: "We are working hard to develop bunkering operations. One possible market is Galicia's fishing fleet with over 4,000 boats, some small, but all kinds of sizes."

Reganosa can already refuel in port ships that require 15,000 cubic metres or more, but it is now studying the possibility of having a smaller jetty where more modest LNG bunkering could be performed.

In addition, the company plans a feasibility study into operating a 10,000-cubic-metre-capacity LNG bunkering ship capable of ship-to-ship refuelling as Mugardos is strategically situated on the Finisterre shipping corridor, which is used annually by over 40,000 ships. There are also protected harbours near its terminal at Vigo, Ferrol and Coruna, and so the company considers itself to be well-positioned in the Atlantic.

Northern Europe is ahead of the Southern countries in marketing LNG as a ship's fuel, but with Emissions Control Areas (ECAs) expanding into southern Europe, even fishing boats will have to consider switching to distillates or lower-sulphur LNG. Whilst some may choose newbuild over retrofit, the extent of grant availability will be a significant factor influencing struggling fishing vessel owners.

Other LNG projects in Spain

Elsewhere in Spain, Enagas, which runs the national gas grid and owns four liquefied natural gas regasification terminals, recently signed an agreement with the Port of Barcelona to convert the port into an LNG distribution hub in the Mediterranean.

Both Enagas and Reganosa are among over 40 companies belonging to the EU-funded 'Core LNGas Hive', a project group that is seeking to coordinate the offer of LNG as a marine fuel to the shipping sector.

Additionally, the GAINN projects are two initiatives (GAINN4MOS and GAINN4SHIP INNOVATION) that are coordinated by the Valenciaport Foundation for Research, Promotion and Commercial Studies of the Valencian region (Fundacion Valenciaport) and co-financed by the European Commission through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) programme. The projects focus on identifying the optimal solution for ports in order to provide LNG bunkering.