LNG Bunkering under Spotlight in Singapore

LNG bunkering was a hot topic for the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), Antwerp Port Authority, Port of Rotterdam and Port of Zeebrugge that participated in an LNG bunkering focus group discussion on 14 and 17 October, held in conjunction with the Singapore International Bunkering Conference and Exhibition (SIBCON) 2014.

The three European port authorities and Singapore discussed harmonisation of the technical standards and procedures, along with risk management, emergency procedures and crew competency standards for international shipping.

According to Andrew Tan, Chief Executive of MPA a good progress has been made in the discussions and the port authority will continue with the efforts to prepare Singapore  for LNG bunkering in the near future.

Mr Eddy Bruyninckx, CEO of the Port of Antwerp, said: “Already in 2011 we expressed our strong belief in LNG as a fuel for the future. In the past years we developed and published procedures for the safe bunkering of LNG as a shipping fuel, we looked into the possibility to build a LNG bunkership and we are currently in the process of tendering a candidate to build and operate an LNG bunker station for barges.

The European Union is supporting us, but of course the cooperation with other ports with an outstanding knowledge and expertise in LNG, like Rotterdam, Singapore and Zeebrugge are of great importance to successfully complete the pioneering work we are doing within the bunkering of LNG as a fuel for ships.”

Over the years, MPA has been collaborating with industry partners and stakeholders on joint industry projects on LNG bunkering in Singapore. In 2010, MPA embarked on a joint industry project led by DNV Technology Centre to assess the commercial viability for LNG.

In 2013, MPA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Antwerp Port Authority and the Port of Zeebrugge to harmonise LNG bunkering standards. In 2014, MPA and its appointed consultant, Lloyd’s Register, completed its study on the Technical Standards and Procedures for LNG bunkering in the Port of Singapore. Following the study, MPA is working closely with the industry and stakeholders to develop a Technical Reference for LNG bunkering in Singapore.

The Port of Singapore recorded bunker sales volume of 42.5 million tonnes in 2013, retaining its position as the world’s top bunkering port. Singapore’s strong performance in bunker sales can be attributed to its strategic location at the crossroads of international trade and the industry structure that results in competitive bunker prices and assured quality and safety standards.