Singapore to Be LNG Bunker-Ready as Early as 2020
Image Courtesy: MPA SingaporeSingapore is on the path to become liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunker-ready in line with the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) decision to limit global sulphur emissions to 0.5% from 2020.
Speaking at Pavilion Energy’s Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) bunkering launch ceremony, Koh Poh Koon, senior minister of state at Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry, said that LNG bunkering is poised to grow in line with international developments in the maritime industry.
“As the world’s largest bunkering port, Singapore remains committed to ensuring that the maritime industry has access to cleaner marine fuels. We plan to be LNG bunker-ready as early as 2020, and today is an important milestone in this journey,” Koh Poh Koon said.
The Maritime Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has a programme to co-fund up to SGD 2 million (USD 1.43 million) for LNG-fuelled harbour craft. Five such harbour craft, which include tug boats and bunker tankers, will be coming on stream from 2018 onwards, Koh Poh Koon said.
Additionally, through the Port Focus Group which Singapore is a member of, “we will also keep abreast of developments in LNG bunkering, learn best practices from other members, and participate in building a network of LNG bunker-ready ports for vessels plying the Far-East Europe and Transpacific routes.”
Following the award of LNG bunkering licences to Pavilion and FueLNG in 2016, the MPA will embark on a three-year LNG bunkering pilot program this year. The program would test operational protocols, gain operational experience and improve Singapore’s capabilities to ensure that LNG bunkering is carried out safely, efficiently, and reliably.
