LNG as shipping fuel in the Port of Zeebrugge

While the energy business is undergoing massive changes due to ecological and financial concerns, Zeebrugge, a gashub for over 30 years, aims to play a lead role in the evolution of LNG fuelling. With the Fluxys LNG terminal in Zeebrugge’s outer port, the Zeepipe, a 814 kilometer long pipeline from Norway, and the Interconnector, a bidirectional pipeline between Bacton and Zeebrugge, our coastal port has grown into a gas crossroads that covers up to 15% of the Northwestern European market.

The Zeebrugge port authority offers all possible help to parties involved in the elaboration of different kinds of small scale LNG projects connected to the port in one way or another. With combined forces and the expertise in gas distribution and utilization, Port of Zeebrugge is perfectly equipped to facilitate LNG bunkering projects.

The first steps in the delivery of LNG as a marine fuel in the Port of Zeebrugge were made by truck-to-ship bunkering operations early 2014. A first LNG truck loading station has been operational at the Fluxys LNG terminal for many years before, and the development of truck-to-ship LNG bunkering services was a logic step in order to play a lead role in the evolution of LNG fuelling.

To facilitate the development of small scale LNG activities, the Fluxys terminal and the port authority invested in a new jetty and adjustment of equipment to prepare for small scale LNG deliveries to small LNG tankers and bunker vessels.

From 2017 on the Engie Zeebrugge, the world’s first purpose-built sea-going LNG Bunker Vessel, arrived in the Port of Zeebrugge. She started her activities executing a weekly service to the M/V AUTO ECO and M/V AUTO ENERGY, two new gas-propelled pure car and truck carriers (PCTC) of UECC. The ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operations were conducted at the same time that the cargo operations for PCTC’s were taking place.

ENGIE Zeebrugge is jointly owned by ENGIE, Mitsubishi Corporation, NYK Line and Fluxys. With an LNG capacity of 5,000m³, she will service all types of shipping customers in Northern Europe from her home port of Zeebrugge, under the brand Gas4Sea.

The Zeebrugge port authority encourages all shipping companies to use LNG as a fuel and welcomes all LNG bunker facility operators to perform LNG bunker activities in the Port of Zeebrugge.

For more information:
www.zeebruggeport.be/en
www.fluxys.com/belgium/en/aboutfluxys/infrastructure/lngterminal/lngterminal.aspx
or contact:
Port of Zeebrugge
Isabellalaan 1
+32 50 543 211
mbz@zeebruggeport.be

Or contact: Rik Goetinck – rg@mbz.be