Maasvlakte 2 welcomes mono-fuel LNG trucks.
As of October 2014 specific access requirements for heavy transport are regulated at the Rotterdam Maasvlakte, a harbour and industrial area near the city of Rotterdam and part of Europoort. These access requirements for Maasvlakte 1 and 2 are part of a package of measures by Rotterdam’s port authority and the government to improve air quality. Dedicated natural gas fuelled trucks heavier than 3.5 tonnes have a distinct advantage, according to a press release by Rolande LNG B.V., a Dutch specialist in supplying liquefied natural gas (LNG) and biogas for road transport.
The traffic order for Maasvlakte 1 and 2 does not apply to vehicles operating exclusively on natural gas. Dutch vehicles registered with the Dutch Vehicle Authority (RDW) for fuel code H (CNG) and / or C (LNG) have unrestricted access. Foreign vehicles with a natural gas engine must be pre-registered via www.rotterdam.nl.
Dual-fuel vehicles that use diesel and natural gas (CNG or LNG) are specified as diesel vehicles, registered as fuel code D (diesel), and must conform to diesel engine requirements. These trucks shall be Euro VI or registered before January 1, 2013 but not be older than 7 years. Preregistered Dutch trucks do not need to register because the RDW records of are used.
The deployment of a dedicated LNG-fuelled truck therefore has access and environmental advantages, hence being allowed on the Maasvlakte. The benefits of a mono-fuel LNG truck compared to similar Euro VI diesel trucks:
- 10% less CO2 emissions
- 54% reduction of NOx
- 95% reduction of soot / particulate
In addition to the environment the carrier also benefits from a number of other advantages:
- 75% quieter: PEAK certificate for early mornings distribution
- Lower Total Cost of Ownership
(Source: Rolande LNG B.V.)
