Page 8 - European Energy Innovation - spring 2019 publication

8 Spring 2019 European Energy Innovation
LNG FOR MARITIME TRANSPORT
LNG for maritime transport
Challenges and prospects
By Sandro Santamato (pictured), Head of Unit, Maritime Transport & Logistics,
European Commission (DG Mobility and Transport)
With a little less than
a year before the
entry into force of Annex VI, and, in the European
the 0.50% sulphur
requirements, the use of Liquefied
Natural Gas (LNG) in shipping is
one of the most stimulating topics
in the maritime industry. For
about a decade now, LNG as an
alternative fuel for shipping has been However, other market segments are an expert group, the European
increasingly adopted as a strategy
for environmental compliance, either benefits offered by LNG as marine
sailing or at port.
With an immediate and significant
impact on the reduction of Sulphur
Oxides emissions (SOx), Particulate
Matter (PM), and also of Nitrogen
Oxides (NOx), the use of LNG as fuel
in maritime transport is an attractive
option for complying with the
requirements of the revised MARPOL
context, the Sulphur Directive
(2016/802/EU).
For some time, LNG vessels were
mainly operating in the short sea
shipping sector, such as the ferry
market or platform supply vessels.
increasingly taking advantage of the
fuel. The recent order of ultra-large
LNG powered container ships and
the delivery of LNG cruise ships are
clear indications of the maturity
of this technology and its potential
for supporting the sustainability of
the sector.
Europe is becoming a leader in the
use of LNG in the maritime sector.
The Commission has supported
the LNG deployment in the
maritime sector through a package
of measures, covering regulatory
aspects, technical issues and
financial support.
In addition to the Sulphur Directive,
which provided a strong incentive
for the use of cleaner fuels in the
maritime sector, the European Union European Maritime Safety Agency
has adopted in 2014 its Alternative
Fuels Infrastructure Directive
(2014/94/EU), which establishes
a clear obligation for EU Member
States to make LNG available in the
maritime ports of the Trans-European review of the applicable framework
Network of Transport by 31 December and of good practices for LNG
2025 at the latest. The Directive also bunkering, the guidance becomes
covers inland ports, which would
need to provide LNG bunkering
infrastructure by 31 December 2030
at the latest. Following the provisions
of this Directive, Member States
are in the process of preparing
their National Policy Frameworks
to establish more than 250 LNG
refuelling points until 2025.
In order to support the maritime
sector in meeting the requirements
of the Sulphur Directive, the
Commission has also established
Sustainable Shipping Forum (ESSF),
to serve as platform for addressing
technical issues faced by the
Member States and the maritime
industry. Since its creation in 2013, a
significant part of the ESSF activities
has focused on the development
of LNG. It served as a platform to
discuss LNG-related issues, such
as safety aspects, training needs,
methane slip and gas quality, as
well as results from EU funded
R&D Projects. The forum also
offered specific recommendations,
notably on the need to develop
an international standard for LNG
Bunkering Connectors or a proposal
for a standard format for LNG
delivery notes.
One of the latest ESSF's deliverables
has been the publication by the
(EMSA) of LNG Bunkering Guidance to
Port Authorities and Administrations,
dealing with the development,
evaluation and control of LNG
bunkering activities. By providing a
an additional element in the EU
strategy to support the deployment
of alternative fuels for shipping.
Last but not least, the Commission
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