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The Swedish port of Gothenburg saw the first bunkering of a ship with LNG whilst it was loading. It was the second important »milestone« in a few weeks, the port authority stresses. 

»Earlier in October, we saw the first ship-to-ship bunkering of LNG at the quayside. Two very imp[ds_preview]ortant milestones for LNG bunkering in just a few weeks. In the interim, five ships bunkered whilst they were at anchor just outside the port«, it was said in a statement. The newly constructed bunker and distribution vessel »Coralius« is operating in the area, and the LNG is supplied by Skangas.

Lng bunker vessel coralius
(Photo: Skangas)

The EU Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive states that it should be possible to bunker LNG at what are termed Sweden’s core ports (Luleå, Gothenburg, Stockholm, Copenhagen/Malmö and Trelleborg) before 2025. The Port of Gothenburg has realised this ambition. According to port manager Dan-Erik Andersson, this is the outcome of a number of key factors, coupled with effective collaboration between various companies and organisations.

»We have shipping companies and energy producers that have had the foresight to invest responsibly in the long term, as well as public agencies that have been compliant with regard to the regulatory framework. We have offered incentives in the form of fuel transition discounts and other financial inducements.«

The Port of Gothenburg has terminals for oil, cars, ro-ro, containers and passengers. It describes itself as »the largest port in the Nordic region«. 30 % of Swedish foreign trade passes through the Port of Gothenburg as well as 60 % of all container traffic. Next year, Swedegas will build a landside pipeline for LNG at the Energy Port in Gothenburg. The investment will also mark the starting point for the construction in stages of a larger facility that will supply both the transport sector and Swedish industry with liquefied gas.