PSV refuelling is Australia’s first LNG bunkering
The first example of a vessel being bunkered with liquefied natural gas in Australia took place recently when the offshore vessel Siem Thiima took on LNG at Kings Supply Base near Dampier.
The operation was undertaken by Wesfarmers’ EVOL LNG in Western Australia. Under an agreement with Woodside, EVOL LNG refuelled the platform supply vessel on 23 January 2017.
“Our decision to enter the LNG bunkering market is part of a long-term strategy that recognises environmental and economic sustainability of LNG as a fuel,” said Wesfarmer’s EVOL LNG. “The LNG marine fuel market is still in development so the fact EVOL has over 15 years’ experience in distributing LNG means we saw an opportunity to provide a suite of services. EVOL can safely manage the bunkering process and provide key services such as training in safe handling of LNG, enabling our customers to confidently adopt LNG as a marine fuel.”
The company’s business manager, Nick Rea, said growth in demand for LNG-fuelled vessels had largely been driven by IMO regulations and the introduction of emission control areas in Europe and North America. In addition, China has introduced emission control areas around its three major ports. “Interest in LNG as a marine fuel is growing, especially since the IMO announced it would introduce a global marine fuel sulphur limit of 0.5 per cent from 2020,” he said.
“LNG is a cleaner fuel than marine diesel, emitting 25 per cent less carbon dioxide, less nitrogen oxides and almost zero sulphur oxides and particulates, which largely addresses emission concerns for the shipping industry and avoids expensive and complicated scrubbing systems.”
Mr Rea said that as emission reduction efforts continued to become more important globally, including in Australia, the adoption of LNG as a low emission marine fuel was expected to increase accordingly. “It is certainly an offering we’d like to expand, particularly as truck-to-ship LNG bunkering can be achieved relatively inexpensively with existing logistics assets. If interest is there, EVOL LNG will obtain licences from other major Australian and regional ports to conduct LNG bunkering operations.”
Mr Rea said EVOL LNG would be able to supply Fremantle customers with LNG at a price competitive with low sulphur marine diesel and would be able to refuel ships at up to 45 tonnes per hour, which is comparable to traditional bunker fuels.