Zeebrugge Performs First Bunkering of LNG-Fueled Tug

A first has occurred in the port of Zeebrugge. The world's first LNG-powered tug M / T Borgøy stopped in the port of Zeebrugge to load LNG fuel.

M / T Borgøy is the first tug in the world sailing on liquefied natural gas (LNG). The shipping industry is facing increasingly stringent emission standards, making shipping companies see it as an interesting alternative to the traditional heavy fuel oil (HFO). This tug emits nearly thirty percent less CO 2 and up to ninety percent less nitrogen oxide and particulate matter than traditionally built tugs.

M / T Borgøy, the first of two identical tugs, was ordered by the Norwegian BUBE (Bukser OG Storage AS) and is on the way from the shipyard in Turkey (Sanmar) to Norway (Karsto), where the tug will be used for Statoil operations. To refuel on its maiden voyage, the LNG tugboat stopped in the port of Zeebrugge.

To provide LNG fuel to the ship, the truck-to-ship bunkering technique was employed, where an LNG trailer on the quay is linked to the LNG tank on the ship - an operation never before performed in Zeebrugge.

The operation was a joint effort of various parties. This bunker operation was carefully prepared by Fluxys Belgium, who has 27 years of experience, expertise and know-how available in LNG. Bunkering of the tug was assigned to LNGEurope. Hoppe Maritime Group acted as agent for BUBE.

Joachim Coens, CEO Port of Zeebrugge: "This operation is of great importance for the port of Zeebrugge. First, we can be proud that BUBE Zeebrugge has chosen to bunker. M / T Borgøy Second, we can be very satisfied that all our efforts in recent years, to the port of Zeebrugge in the bunkering of LNG, today confirmed and awarded a first mover were real. We are quite a number of partners working on different projects, all in different stages. This is a project that we have been a success. In practice knowing that there are more such projects coming, does this small success much virtue. "

Koos Blaazer , LNGEurope e.g. : "LNGEurope by this successful operation strengthened again in the belief that such safe bunker operations in the future will be routine for a steadily growing fleet of LNG-powered ships, and not only in Zeebrugge."

Stefaan Hoppe, Hoppe Maritime Group: "We are delighted to note that our company was appointed to represent BUBE and to make the first truck-to-ship LNG bunkering in the port of Zeebrugge part. In the future we hope to assist in new developments such as liquefied natural gas and small scale LNG bunkering LNG. "