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countries, would lead to the development of half of the world’s LNG-refuelled ships operate
industrial platforms and end-to-end supply in Norway.
chains for the use of LNG as a marine fuel. On a European level, key milestones include
Petronas also signed an agreement with lead- the EU’s 2005 sulphur directive, as well as the
ing Japanese LNG trader JERA in February to creation of emissions control areas (ECAs) in the
establish a global bunkering supply network, Baltic and North seas that same year. Authorities
with the two firms committing to leveraging are currently discussing the establishment of a
each other’s LNG bunkering experience. Mediterranean ECA as well, which would have
JERA launched its own LNG bunkering significant impact on LNG bunkering there.
business in October 2020, when its joint ven- Today there are some 125 LNG-fuelled
ture with three other Japanese companies, Cen- ships working in European waters, represent-
tral LNG, supplied LNG bunker to the Nippon ing around three quarters of the global total,
Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) operated Sakura according to DNV GL. There are also some 28
Leader vehicle carrier. NYK, along with Kawa- LNG bunkering vessels that serve them.
saki Kisen Kaisha (K Line) and Toyota Tsusho, is A notable event in Europe was Total’s bunker-
a Central LNG partner. ing of the world’s largest containership, the CMA
Asia’s other major LNG importers, China and CGM-operated Jacques Saade, with bio-LNG
South Korea, have also begun working on their last November. Saade and other containerships
own bunkering capabilities. will be refuelled with LNG while transporting
China’s southeastern city of Shenzhen last goods between markets in Asia and Europe.
year teamed up with state-run PetroChina, The French major undertook the operation
Shenzhen Gas and Yantian Port to develop the at the port of Rotterdam using its first LNG bun-
country’s first offshore LNG bunkering terminal. kering barge, the Gas Agility. Total has a second
The South Korean government, meanwhile, barge on order that will start bunkering in the
has thrown its weight behind the construction of south of France in 2022.
a ship-to-ship LNG bunkering vessel as well as a The country that registered the biggest
smaller bunkering vessel for coastal use. growth in LNG bunkering last year was Spain,
which saw 741 operations take place versus only
Europe 199 in 2019. There are now nine Spanish ports
LNG has been used to fuel LNG carriers that provide LNG refuelling services. Driving
(LNGCs) for decades, but until recently, its use this growth has been increased LNG uptake in
in bunkering other types of ships was confined the cruise sector and a rise in LNG-fuelled trade
to Norway. LNG bunkering began spreading between Asia and Europe.
beyond Norwegian shores in the early 2010s,
and is now available at many ports in North Former Soviet States
Europe and has made significant inroads in the Russia has been slow to adopt LNG as a mari-
Mediterranean. time fuel despite its substantial and low-cost
Local policy has played a vital role in spurring gas resources. However, the government has
the development of LNG bunkering in Europe. launched a programme to increase the number
Norway introduced a tax on nitrogen oxide of Russian ports that offer the fuel and expand
emissions in 2007, with the proceeds going into LNG use in both sea and river transport.
a special fund which was then used to expand On an international level, state shipping giant
LNG bunkering infrastructure. Today around Sovcomflot now has six LNG-fuelled oil tankers

The Dmitry Medvedev,
recently launched,
is Russia's first LNG
bunkering barge.

P6 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 13 01•April•2021