First LNG bunkering operation in Rome

The tug, Bokn, owned by Buksér og Berging, took on LNG fuel at the Rome Cruise Terminal in the Port of Civitavecchia. LNGEurope says that this was the first LNG bunkering operation permit issued at the Port, indeed at any Italian port, and the first truck-to-ship bunkering of LNG to a seagoing vessel within any port in Italy and that part of the Mediterranean.

Bokn is a sister ship to Borgøy, delivered last year to Buksér from the Sanmar shipyard in Turkey. Both vessels are powered by Bergen gas-only engines, so a supply of LNG at various ports was essential during their delivery voyages. En route to Karsto in Norway, Bokn bunkered in Italy, Spain and Belgium, calling at Civitavecchia, Cartagena, Vigo and Zeebrugge. Bunkering at Civitavecchia and Zeebrugge was executed by the LNGEurope, using one of the company’s trailers, positioned alongside the ship and connected to the ship’s fuel tank. LNGEurope says this exercise has proved truck-to-ship bunkering of LNG to be easy, flexible, safe and cost effective.

The bunkering at Civitavecchia was prepared and planned in cooperation with the Civitavecchia Port Authority, the Harbour Master, the Fire Fighting Department, Italian LNG promotional body ConferenzaGNL, and Wilhelmsen Ships Agency – Genova Head Office. Calogero Giuseppe Burgio, director of environmental and technological development at the Port of Civitavecchia said: “This LNG bunkering operation is of the greatest importance to the port of Civitavecchia. Firstly, we show that we are in the fore front of developments and secondly we are proud to have the first LNG truck-to-ship bunkering in Italy.”

Paolo D’Ermo, programme manager, ConferenzaGNL, said: “This bunkering operation is of great significance to Italy. It shows that the LNG as a ship fuel is a safe and sustainable solution that is gaining international importance. ConferenzaGNL will give the proper visibility within the Italian stakeholders to this historical step in the LNG use for maritime transport in Italy. This operation will help us address the acceptance issues related to the use of LNG for transport during the activity of the ConferenzaGNL Project 2014-2015.”

Koos Blaazer, general manager of LNGEurope added: “This successful bunkering operation confirms the belief of LNGEurope that these safe bunkering operations will become routine for a steadily growing fleet of LNG fuelled ships, not only in Civitavecchia, but worldwide.”