Dutch Firm Plans LNG Bunker Pontoon

Dutch small-scale supplier Titan LNG said September 23 it has designed and developed what will be the first LNG bunkering pontoon in northwest Europe, which it plans to have operational in 2018. It is in talks with ship designers about awarding a contract.

The company said the ‘Titan LNG Flex-Fueler’ will give larger vessels access to LNG delivery in the crucial Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) region, and thus spur additional demand for LNG as a bunker fuel. Although designed to have a fixed location to supply inland waterway vessels, it can also be navigated to larger sea-going vessels and safely supply LNG while they load or unload their cargo.  

A 3-D rendering of how the planned ‘Titan LNG Flex-Fueler’ will look like in 2018 (Photo credit: Titan LNG)

Titan CEO Niels den Nijs said that truck-to-ship delivery is currently the only means of receiving LNG bunkers in the ARA region, but that some larger LNG-fuelled vessels cannot bunker at land-based stations: “The feedback that we have received from customers, ports and class societies has convinced us that Titan LNG Flex-Fueler is the missing link to safe, economical and speedy LNG delivery in the ARA region.” It boasts a double bottom, double hull with a length of 70 metres and will be fitted with up to four tanks, each with a LNG capacity of 300 m³.

Bunkering firms are being more innovative in how they can supply LNG to marine and inland waterway customers. Last week Spain's Cepsa said it and shipowner Suardiaz would launch Europe's first multi-product bunkering barge in 2018 at the Port of Barcelona.

Mark Smedley