Singapore is inviting interested parties to apply for a licence to supply LNG fuel to ships in its waters.
In their submissions to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), applicants must propose an LNG bunkering supply solution.
This should include how the applicant will procure and deliver the LNG fuel and marketing plans.
Submissions must be submitted by 30 September and the shortlisted proposals will be announced by MPA by year-end.
The development is in line with Singapore’s plan to start a pilot scheme to supply LNG fuels in 2017.
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MPA will also provide funding of up to SGD2 million (USD1.45 million) per vessel for up to six LNG-fuelled ships for the pilot programme.
Singapore is the world’s biggest bunkering port, with more than 42 million tonnes of bunker sales last year.
Local bunkering veteran Simon Neo told IHS Maritime that a different set of challenges exists with LNG bunkering.
He explained, “To supply LNG, vessels have to reconfigure their engine room and storage facilities, crew needs re-training as LNG handling is different from handling fuel oil, so safety issues must be addressed; even bunker barges need to be retrofitted. A complete overhaul is needed. So LNG bunkering will take off but the technology still needs to be fully understood.”
This post was sourced from IHS Maritime 360: View the original article here.
