First LNG bunkering while loading realized at Gothenburg

The first LNG bunkering of a ship, whilst it was loading, took place in the port of Gothenburg, on Friday. Bunkering of LNG has in the last few weeks alone become a regular part of operations at the port.

Namely, less than a month ago, the port welcomed the first ship-to-ship bunkering of LNG at the quayside. The newly constructed bunker and distribution vessel ‘Coralius’ is operating in the area, and the LNG is supplied by Skangas. In the interim, five ships bunkered whilst they were at anchor just outside the port.

    “Even 5-10 years ago the idea of ships running on liquefied natural gas would have almost been regarded as science fiction. Now we have had seven LNG-bunkerings here in less than a month. It would be no exaggeration to describe this as a major breakthrough,” said Dan-Erik Andersson, Gothenburg Port Authority Operations Manager at the Energy Port.

The EU Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive states that it should be possible to bunker LNG at what are termed Sweden’s core ports (Luleå, Gothenburg, Stockholm, Copenhagen/Malmö and Trelleborg) before 2025.

According to Dan-Erik Andersson, this is the outcome of a number of key factors, coupled with effective collaboration between various companies and organisations.

    “The Sulphur Directive introduced in 2015 has spurred us on, and at the Gothenburg Port Authority we have offered incentives in the form of fuel transition discounts and other financial inducements.”

Ever since LNG has become more commonplace at the Port of Gothenburg, with an increase in the number of calls and efficient handling systems and routines, things are continuing to move forward with further bunkering options on the horizon. Next year, Swedegas will build a landside pipeline for LNG at the Energy Port in Gothenburg. The investment will also mark the starting point for the construction in stages of a larger facility that will supply both the transport sector and Swedish industry with liquefied gas.