IAPH Supports LNG Bunkering at Port of Rotterdam

Cees Boon, Safety Advisor at the Port of Rotterdam, has showcased a new LNG bunkering audit tool developed by the International Association of Ports and Harbours’ (IAPH) Clean Marine Fuels Working Group.

With LNG bunkering operations set to grow exponentially in the next five years, according to an IAPH statement, the audit tool is already being used at the Port of Rotterdam to licence operations.

Speaking at the Riviera Maritime LNG Ship/Shore Conference in London, Boon said: “By 2020, our estimate is that we will have granted nine licenses to LNG bunker providers to operate at the Port of Rotterdam; six of the licenses are already for regular use in port LNG bunker operations to refuel LNG-powered cruise, cargo, tanker and container vessels.

“By using best practice guidelines in the IAPH audit tool developed by ports for port authorities, licenses to operate can be efficiently assessed and granted to professional LNG bunker operators looking to provide their services across several ports.”

In addition to this, Boon explained licensing procedures and how LNG ship-to-ship bunkering during simultaneous operations (“SIMOPS”) is possible alongside terminals at the Port of Rotterdam, as long as it is safe and controlled.

By following a systematic process of checks on both LNG bunkering vessels and the operator, the IAPH’s audit tool provides an efficient means of pre-qualifying an applicant before entering into the full process of risk assessment, location, mooring, and simultaneous operations.

"The IAPH Clean Marine Fuels Working Group LNG operators' audit tool for Ports was presented in London today by Port of Rotterdams Cees Boon to delegates at the LNG Ship/Shore Interface Conference. His port have already fully audited two operators using the tool."

— WPSP (@WPSP_IAPH) November 22, 2018

Cees, who is also a member of the clean Marine Fuels Working Group, added: “We found that by having operators answer a detailed list of questions from the IAPH audit tool, we could offer concrete observations as constructive feedback as to how they measured up to industry best practices at an early stage.

“This also allows operators and vessel owners to build these into their safety management systems prior to the main nautical and external safety studies taking place on location.”