First LNG bunkering for a Balearia ferry in the Port of Barcelona

Gas Natural Fenosa and Baleària successfully performed the first LNG bunkering on the ferry Abel Matutes as part of their project, the first of its kind in Spain, to install an auxiliary natural gas engine and an LNG tank aimed at reducing emissions and improving air quality.

Natural gas bunkering is envisaged in the energy supply contract signed by the two companies when they launched the project. This bunkering process is of the truck to ship (TTS) kind, which consists of directly transferring the fuel from a tanker to the Abel Matutes. It is the first operation of its kind to be carried out in the Port of Barcelona under its 2016 Air Quality Improvement Plan.

And it marks a project milestone, as once the pertinent tests have been performed, the vessel will be able operate with the auxiliary natural gas engine, thus reducing emissions from its maneuvers in the port areas of Barcelona and Mallorca, the two cities connected daily by this Baleària ferry.

“With this joint project with Baleària, and in close collaboration with the Port of Barcelona, Gas Natural Fenosa is continuing to promote the use of natural gas as an alternative fuel for transporting people and goods, helping to improve air quality and replacing more polluting fuels,” said Daniel López Jorda, Managing Director of Retail Energy Business.

“With this project we are taking the first step in our commitment to using this fuel, which will also drive the smartship we are building. “This makes Baleària a pioneering shipping line in the use of LNG in Spain,” said Baleària President Adolfo Utor.

Using this technology on the ferry will lead to emission reductions and annual savings of almost 4,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), over 60 tons of nitrogen oxide (NOx) and 6 tons of sulfur oxide (SOx).

The project continues to make progress following the installation of an auxiliary gas engine and a 30 m3 tank (enough for one week) on deck 8 of the Abel Matutes. The new engine is fully integrated into the ship’s electricity plant, enabling it to operate with any of the onboard auxiliary engines, with no visual impact. The ferry, which measures 190 meters in length, has a capacity of 900 people and 2,235 linear meters of wheeled cargo.

This action is part of the European CLEANPORT project and is co-funded by the European Union through the CEF-Transport program, participants in which include not only Gas Natural Fenosa and Baleària, but the ports of Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca and the Directorate-General for Merchant Shipping. For the Port of Barcelona it is a strategic project to drive and encourage the change to LNG for ships, trucks and terminal machinery.

https://www.ngvjournal.com/first-lng-bunkering-for-a-balearia-ferry-in-the-port-of-barcelona/