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Demands for innovation in the LNG bunkering industry have led several ports around the world to embark on projects involving a certain level of risk. New projects are always tested and attempted, including those like the Hummel project in Germany.

What is the Hummel project?

Hummel is the name of a vessel that operates within the port of Hamburg. It is a barge that is used to supply power to anchored cruise ships when they make calls in Hamburg. Using LNG fuels to generate power, Hummel supplies the cruise ships with the electrical power they need while simultaneously cutting down emissions given off at the port.

Cruise ships that hook up to Hummel's power supply are able to cut off their own heavy-fuel engines for the time, helping them to conserve this fuel for future use and to reduce harmful emissions in the port by as much as 80 percent.

The vessel was created and christened in 2014 and made its first successful power run in 2015 for two AIDA cruise liners that anchored in Hamburg.

How does it work?

Hummel is not an LNG bunkering vessel. Instead, it uses on-board diesel engines to generate electrical power. It then transfers this power to any attached vessels in the port. The LNG-fuelled engines help this barge to act as a power plant and supplier to cruise liners in the port and harbour.

Use of LNG for power generation makes this vessel more economical and much more environmentally friendly. Whereas traditional heavy fuels produce harmful sulphur dioxides, LNG fuels do not contain sulphur. They also produce lower amounts of nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide. On-board engines are capable of emitting 7.5 MW of power, or 50/60 Hz.

What went wrong?

Although things looked positive for Hummel in the beginning, issues with regulations and restrictions have plagued the project. One of the largest issues that discourages use of the Hummel vessel and any other of its type is Hamburg port's requirement for the vessel to have a harbour tug on standby each time it is loaded. The tug must have its engines running, ready for immediate operation. This regulation makes operating the vessel more expensive than it should be for its regular activities.

Additionally, the vessel is required to return to a specific berth after every loading session, requiring the use of a tug in order for it to berth properly.

Marine director of the German shipowners association (Verband Deutscher Reeder (VDR), Wolfgang Hintzsche, has blamed the issue on a lot of federal rules centred on the usage of LNG fuels. In his opinion, the federal government needs to issue clear and specific regulations surrounding the use of LNG fuels and bunkering methods. Without federal guidance, every port gets to decide for itself how it will regulate these types of vessels.

The unclear LNG fuel regulations, strict in-port policies, and other such legal issues faced by the Hummel have prevented the project from being a complete success. However, the concept could succeed in the future if the German government is able to issue distinct federal guidelines on the use of LNG fuels in ports.