Port of Singapore prepares for LNG bunkering with pilot program

During the Singapore International Bunkering Conference and Exhibition (SIBCON), the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and Singapore LNG Corporation Pte Ltd (SLNG) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on a pilot truck loading facility, which will be used to service LNG bunkering. The facility will also be used to serve a variety of other industries that may require small volumes of LNG to be transported over land. MPA has committed up to approximately S$2 million to co-fund the development of this facility, which will be operationally ready by early 2017.

MPA is working with SPRING Singapore to develop the Technical Reference (TR) for Singapore’s LNG bunkering standards. This TR will be launched in early 2017, providing a reliable and transparent framework for LNG bunkering operations.

Of the S$12 million allocated for the co-funding program for LNG-powered vessels, a total of S$8 million has been awarded to Harley Marine Asia Pte Ltd, Keppel Smit Towage Pte Ltd and Maju Maritime Pte Ltd. The types of vessels that will be built include tugboats and bunker tankers.

To encourage the uptake of LNG bunker by local harbor craft, MPA will waive five years of port dues for new LNG-fueledharbor craft that register with MPA between 1 October 2017 and 31 December 2019. To complement this effort, MPA will also grant an additional 10% port dues concession for the Green Port Program qualifying vessels that engage LNG-fueledharbor craft for their port operations.

Moreover, an international focus group was formed in 2014 to cooperate on LNG bunkering. MPA is now expanding the original MoU, which initially comprised the ports of Singapore, Rotterdam, Antwerp and Zebrugee, to include the Port of Jacksonville, Norwegian Maritime Authority, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Japan and the Ulsan Port Authority, Republic of Korea. The expansion of the group was formalized through another MoU, which will deepen cooperation and information sharing in relation to LNG bunkering.

As the group works towards building a network of LNG bunker ready ports across the Asia-Europe shipping route, the increased representation of Asian ports will add impetus towards making LNG bunkering a reality in the future.

https://www.ngvjournal.com/port-of-singapore-prepares-for-lng-bunkering-with-pilot-program/