Europe’s Mega Ports Focussing on LNG

The Antwerp Port Authority has launched a brief survey for potential LNG users in order to inform the future constructor about the facilities that the station must offer. The Port Authority hopes to get input on questions such as which types of customer the facility must serve, and whether the user/operator has a preference for particular technologies. Based on the answers received, the Port authority will refine the specifications for construction of the LNG bunkering and filling station.

By the beginning of 2016 the port of Antwerp will have an LNG bunkering and filling station for barges. The project is being partly financed by the European Commission as part of the LNG Master Plan, a project to promote the use of LNG by European barges. The procedure for construction of the station is currently under way.

In July 2014 the Port Authority issued a European call for candidates to build an LNG bunkering and filling station for barges. Various candidates put themselves forward in the month that followed. The next step will be for the Port Authority to supply the selected candidates with the contract specifications.

In a parallel process another call has been launched with the aim of appointing a candidate to operate the facility in the form of a concession.

In the technical specifications for the facility the Port Authority wants to take into account the preferences of potential customers/operators of the installation. The questionnaire drawn up for this can be completed up until 11:00 hours, October 9, 2014. On the basis of the answers received, the Port Authority will consider the possibility of organising a round table discussion with the interested respondents on Tuesday, October 14.

Port of Rotterdam,  an official coordinator for the Rhine Corridor in the EU’s LNG Masterplan project, is playing host to the latest inland LNG safety study. Falck Risc, an international provider of safety training and consultancy for both high risk and low risk industrial companies, and the United Fire Department, won the tender for a LNG safety study which was commissioned by the European Union (TEN-T) as an important part of the LNG Masterplan. As part of the LNG safety programme, Falck has opened the very first northwest European training facility for liquefied natural gas on the Rotterdam Maasvlakte.

Robbert van der Veen, manager at Falck Risc, said: “Falck Risc supports the Port of Rotterdam and other relations in handling LNG safely. Falck Risc enables this by combining LNG practice and theory. The new hightech training facility at the Maasvlakte will greatly contribute to this.”

Here firecrews, employees and members of company emergency response teams in the chemical and petrochemical industries will be able to train in a realistic environment in anticipating and dealing with the risks involved in LNG.

“Fighting LNG incident is no everyday occurrence. And what you rarely do, you will rarely do well. That is why I am happy with this facility where LNG is available for training any possible incident,” saidvan der Veen.