Port of Rotterdam and Gothenburg Form LNG Alliance

COO of the Port of Rotterdam Authority, Ronald Paul, right, and Magnus KÃ¥restedt, the CEO Port of Gothenburg Authority. Photo: Mark van Schouwen

The largest port in Europe, the Port of Rotterdam, and the largest port in Scandinavia, the Port of Gothenburg, have entered a new alliance in an effort to speed up the establishment of liquefied natural gas as a maritime fuel.

A memorandum of understanding will be signed between the two ports, both of which are located within the Sulphur Emission Control Areas, or SECAs, in northern Europe where stricter rules governing sulphur in maritime fuel are due to be introduced in 2015. The aim is to have infrastructure for LNG bunkering available once the sulphur regulations come into effect.

“We see LNG as an important opportunity for the maritime industry to comply with the sulphur directive in 2015. The use of LNG as a fuel fits in our policy to become the most sustainable port. We consider the Port of Gothenburg as a strong partner in the Scandinavian market for this issue”, says Ronald Paul, COO, Rotterdam Port Authority

“We are extremely pleased that the largest port in Europe has joined forces with us in this important issue. Working together, we will have a very strong offering to the market,” says Magnus KÃ¥restedt, Port of Gothenburg Chief Executive.

LNG offers substantial environmental benefits. Sulphur and particle emissions would be reduced to almost zero, nitrogen oxide emissions by 85-90 per cent and net greenhouse gases by 15-20 per cent.

To achieve the LNG target at both ports by 2015, rapid development is required in a number of areas. The necessary infrastructure at the ports needs to be constructed and rules will need to be drafted for handling LNG. It is also vital that the two ports promote awareness of LNG as a maritime fuel.