LNG bunkering – full steam ahead?
Bergensfjord LNG-powered ferry. LNG looks set to take off as a bunkering fuel over the next 10 years. (LMG Marin)
LNG bunkering in Europe remains on a small scale. However, with new emissions regulations, new ships on order and new bunkering ports opening and being planned, its development has momentum. The potential for infrastructure expansion over the next 5-10 years is considerable, but there are still questions about the business case for LNG as a shipping fuel. There may have been a ‘chicken and egg’ issue in the past, but not anymore. The question now is, if governments invest and build the bunkering infrastructure, will there be the ships to use it?
LNG was first used as a shipping fuel in LNG tankers, which were able to use the liquefied gas they were carrying in their engines. It started to grow as a shipping fuel in Norway in the 2000s. On the supply side, there are dozens of ports that already offer LNG bunkering in Europe or have plans to. On the demand side, there are around 60-65 LNG-fuelled vessels worldwide. The bulk are in Norway, and although LNG bunkering has moved beyond Scandinavia, it is still the world’s most developed hub.