Copenhagen Malmö Port (CMP) has stepped into the broadening world of liquefied natural gas bunkering, delivering LNG fuel for the first time to the dry cargo carrier MV Ireland, operated by KGJ Cement of Bergen, Norway. The vessel was provided with LNG via tanker lorries when in Malmö to unload cement.
The bunkering at the end of May was made possible through close cooperation between the LNG supplier SkanGas, the client company Cementa, and CMP. Together the companies have investigated risks, taken precautionary measures and developed routines for bunkering LNG at CMP.
“Ireland was provided with LNG via two tanker lorries on the quayside. The bunkering was undramatic, and it feels good for us now to be able to offer this possibility”, says CMP’s Terminal Manager Emil Nordström.
“We are now evaluating various solutions so that more types of vessels can bunker LNG with us” says Nordström. “We might consider bunkering from ships, or we might invest in our own permanent LNG infrastructure in the future.”
Safety prioritised
Handling LNG imposes additional safety requirements. Methane is a naturally occurring gas that in its liquefied form is stored at minus 162˚C. A tanker lorry can carry about 40 cubic meters of LNG. Pumping the gas over to the ship takes about an hour. Before this, the gas supplier and the on-board crew go through a check-list together.
“This ensures that the technical requirements are met and that the safety measures are in place. The routines for the bunkering itself are also gone through,” Nordström said.
During the course of the work a large area on the quayside is cordoned off. When bunkering is carried out the tanker is enveloped in white ‘smoke’. This is completely harmless water vapour that is formed when the gas is pumped over to the vessel.
MV Ireland
M.V. Ireland, built by Ferus Smit, is a dedicated cement carrier owned by the joint venture JT cement, in which Erik Thun AB cooperates with KG Jebsen Cement (KGJ). The vessel is one of the first dry cargo vessels ever with an LNG fueled propulsion system, in which a pressurised LNG tank is incorporated inside the hull.
Beside a first bunkering at CMP, it also recorded a first bunkering for the UK (at the Port of Immingham) and the Spanish ports of Bilbao and Santander.
Source: Copenhagen Malmö Port AB
Related articles:
- First Ship-to-Ship LNG Bunkering for Bay of Biscay
- Associated British Ports and Flogas Unite to Bunker with LNG
- Wärtsilä Dual-fuel Engines for Four Thun Chemical Tankers
- Molgas Bunkers LNG at Port of Santander
