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The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) has expressed its concern over the launch of the European Commission's 'Clean Fuel for Transport Package'.

The package consists of a Communication on a European alternative fuels strategy, a Directive focusing on infrastructure and standards and an accompanying document describing an action plan for the development of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in shipping.

It also includes a proposal that LNG refuelling stations be installed in all 139 maritime and inland ports on the Trans European Core Network by 2020 and 2025 respectively.

In a statement, the Brussels-based ports organisation said: "ESPO supports the development of LNG as a viable and green alternative fuel for ships and acknowledges that shore side electricity for vessels at berth is one of the potential solutions to address local air quality challenges in ports. ESPO therefore welcomes the fact that funding would be made available through the TEN-T calls for the further development of such projects.

"ESPO however doubts whether imposing LNG refuelling infrastructure in all TEN-T core ports would be appropriate, since there may not be a market for it in all of those ports, whereas there could be a market in other, non-core ports."

ESPO Secretary General Patrick Verhoeven [pictured] commented: "We believe that LNG refueling points should be developed in those ports where this actually makes sense. We are concerned that imposing the development of EU co-funded LNG infrastructure in all core ports may, in certain cases, lead to the development of largely unused or underused facilities."

"In addition, ESPO considers that alternative solutions to the development of LNG and shore side electricity are and will become increasingly available in the near future. While fully supporting the aim of improving the environmental performance of maritime transport, ESPO believes that there are not ‘silver bullet’ type of solutions and that, therefore, a closer examination of the actual needs of individual ports is necessary," ESPO said.

Image: Patrick Verhoeven, Secretary General of the European Sea Ports Organisation.<.i>