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On Friday, 25 April, the port authorities of Antwerp, Mannheim, Rotterdam, Strasbourg and Switzerland signed a joint venture for the introduction of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel.

The initiative involves cooperation in research, promotion, knowledge transfer, legislation and bunker infrastructure. The agreements follow on from the LNG Master Plan of the Rhine-Main-Danube corridor, which all participating ports are involved in. The aim of the plan is to have LNG in full-scale use as a fuel for inland shipping along the Rhine-Main-Danube corridor.

The European Union (EU) has provided a subsidy of 40 million euros to support an LNG infrastructure for the Rhine-Main-Danube area. The Danser Group, supported by the LNG Master plan, has commenced refitting its Eiger-Nordwand tow boat. The engines of this vessel will be powered by LNG.

Rotterdam

The cooperation with other ports ties in with the Port of Rotterdam Authority’s aim to see the market for LNG as a fuel develop to its full potential, and to open an LNG hub in Rotterdam before the end of 2015. In order to realise this, the Port Authority is investing in infrastructure, is closely involved in the formation of the necessary national and international policy and legislation, and is working in cooperation with other partners.

LNG in Rotterdam

Rotterdam's Gate Terminal has been used for the storage and handling of LNG since 2011. The Argonon and the Greenstream are the first LNG-powered inland vessels that call at the port of Rotterdam. The Municipality of Rotterdam amended the regulations last year so that inland vessels can now also bunker.

LNG

LNG stands for liquefied natural gas. Natural gas (methane) turns into liquid at -162 degrees. Ships powered by LNG are quieter and have very low sulphur and nitrogen oxide emissions. Moreover, the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are estimated to be reduced by 15 percent.

Image: Argonon bunker tanker.