· Fendercare and SPT to commence pioneering ship-to-ship LNG services
· Innovative service launched in response to IMO emissions deadline
· Two-phase project will see SOHAR become vital LNG hub in global supply chain
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SOHAR
Port and Freezone is to join an elite group of ports offering LNG
ship-to-ship services. That measures are now in place to begin issuing
licenses to STS service providers equipped to handle LNG, came as an
historic announcement at the 2014 Singapore International Bunkering
Conference (SIBCON).
With
125 years’ experience between them, Fendercare and SPT will be offered
the opportunity to provide this pioneering service after requesting
permission to begin operations. SOHAR Executive Commercial Manager Edwin
Lammers revealed there are also plans to establish LNG bunkering
facilities in SOHAR in years to come.
“We
are delighted to announce that we have put all of the necessary
licensing structures in place to be able to start LNG ship-to-ship
services in SOHAR. Around the world there are currently only a few ports
that are able to offer this service, among them Port of Rotterdam and
Singapore,” Mr. Lammers explained.
“This
will be the first phase of our project, and we will move quickly in
issuing the new licenses and getting things up and running. The second
phase will involve installing LNG bunkering services for vessels calling
at SOHAR Port,” he continued.
The
news comes just a few months ahead of the International Maritime
Organisation’s deadline for cargo ships passing through so-called
‘Emissions Control Areas’ to drastically reduce the level of sulphur
oxide in fuel supplies to just 0.1%. This has prompted an almost
immediate worldwide investigation into potential LNG fuelling options.
“While
the industry continues to explore safe and commercially viable options
for reducing SOX levels in conventional fuels, many of the world’s
biggest shipping lines are looking to bypass costly upgrades in favour
of moving directly to LNG. We’ve anticipated this trend and expect the
industry to develop fast,” said Lammers.
He
continued: “As a first step, many organisations are developing ships
that would be capable of burning LNG and diesel; Hanjin Shipping, DNV GL
and GTT, for example, are currently designing a vessel that can carry
16,300 TEU on Asia-Europe routes. United Arab Shipping Co. is also
building 17 hybrid ships — six with capacities of over 18,000 TEU, while
UASC is looking to establish an LNG base in the Middle East.”
In
addition to global shipping lines, a new European Union regulatory
framework will make it a requirement for member states to build LNG
infrastructure across core Trans-European Networks for Transport by
2025, ideally every 400 kilometres. With many of Europe’s ports falling
within one of the IMO’s Emissions Control Areas, the new rules are part
of a far wider clean fuel strategy focused on bringing alternative fuels
to the entire European transport sector, including inland vehicles.
And
Europe is not alone, according to Mr. Lammers: “A recent LNG bunkering
survey published by Lloyd’s Register reported that of the 4 ports in
North America, 15 in Europe, and 3 in Asia that took part in the survey,
more than half have LNG plans in the pipeline, and more than half also
said they are working alongside other ports to develop those plans,”
Lammers continued.
He
went on: "Like SOHAR, many of the ports surveyed expect to rely on
third-party ship-to-ship suppliers while further studies are carried
out, feasibility reports compiled, and the larger investments required
to build in-port infrastructures are secured. Over time, this trend will
naturally shift, as the market evolves and as the full array of LNG
benefits are harnessed. This includes energy security; economic and
environmental benefits.”
Having
recently boosted its in-port bunkering offering with a 6,000mt IFO
barge and 500cbm gasoil barge, SOHAR is already home to some of the
world’s most experienced bunkering service and liquid bulk storage
facilities. This includes Omanoil Matrix Marine Services (MXO), an
independent joint venture between Matrix Marine Holding and Oman Oil,
and the world-leading Oiltanking Odfjell Terminals Oman (OOTO) – also a
joint venture between Germany’s Oiltanking and Norway’s Odfjell.
Oiltanking is a leading independent storage partner for oils, while
Odfjell is at the forefront of the global market for transporting and
storing bulk liquid. Together as OOTO they have a capacity of close to
1.4 million cubic metres in SOHAR. And, having forged a successful
partnership in the niche chemical tanks market, the new LNG service will
consolidate the position of SOHAR as a critical link on global shipping
routes.
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