Kamarajar Port LNG terminal welcomes first tanker
The newly constructed LNG terminal inside Kamarajar Port, Ennore in Chennai, India, welcomed its first tanker. Namely, the Marshall Islands-flagged LNG carrier ‘LNG/C Golar Snow’ was carrying the first consignment of 78,037m³ of LNG from Ras Laffan in Qatar for the commissioning of the terminal.
The newly constructed LNG terminal inside Kamarajar Port, Ennore in Chennai, India, welcomed its first tanker. Namely, the Marshall Islands-flagged LNG carrier ‘LNG/C Golar Snow’ was carrying the first consignment of 78,037m³ of LNG from Ras Laffan in Qatar for the commissioning of the terminal.
GAC handled the berth of the tanker, and specifically agency operations were overseen by Captain Srinivasan Sethumadhavan, General Manager of Shipping Services at GAC’s Chennai Office. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Sethumadhavan said that he is optimistic about the opportunities that the new LNG terminal will generate.
He stated that:
"The opening of the first LNG terminal on the east coast of India is likely to change trade dynamics and drive industrial growth in this area. Overall, the outlook for the Indian LNG market is promising"
Currently, India imports some 45% of its total natural gas consumption. The country has also invested heavily in constructing more LNG terminals and pipelines, aiming to transform the country into a gas-based economy.
The LNG market is expected to drive an increase in the number of tanker calls.
What is more, SEA\LNG in collaboration with SGMF has commissioned an independent study to establish the facts regarding GHG emissions from LNG as a marine fuel considering all emissions from well-to-wake for LNG and other fuels.
As the study is currently under review, its results will be published in April.
SEA/LNG firmly supports that LNG is a viable pathway to be in line with IMO's 2020 GHG targets. The shipping sector has two important paths two follow. Firstly, the industry aims to a rapid improvement of air quality. Secondly, the decrease of GHG emissions is vital.
