The IMO (International Maritime Organization) has adopted measures to reduce GHG emissions from international shipping by at least 50%. As an environmentally friendly option, LNG (liquefied natural gas) looks set to become the most widely used alternative energy source in coming years. Replacing liquid fossil fuels currently in use, such as marine diesel oil and bunker fuel, with natural gas will undoubtedly result in a significant reduction in CO2 emissions and, even more importantly, in the almost total elimination of NOx (nitrogen oxides) and SOx (sulphur oxides).

To do this, being able to efficiently transport natural gas is essential. The solution isLNG, natural gas that has been cooled down using cryogenics, resulting in its volume being shrunk so that it takes up around 600 times less space than when in its gaseous form. This makes it easier and cheaper to supply from shore and store in ships.

Of the more than 60,000 cargo and passenger ships worldwide, only around 200 are fuelled by LNG. However, as a result of international requirements, this figure looks set to increase exponentially over the coming years. As a result, we will continue to see increased demand for bunkering facilities at ports and in areas where ships and tugboats sail. Many of these will require high-capacity ship-to-shore and ship-to-ship facilities.

Over the past 5 years, we have played an active role in designing and supervising the majority of Spain’s LNG bunkering facilities, and are now taking this experience as well as the technology developed to other parts of the world.