Business and new opportunities for the development of LNG sector met onboard M/S Stavangerfjord
LNG: Best Fuel of the Future took place last week onboard Fjord Line’s LNG powered ferry M/S Stavangerfjord, gathering stakeholders from various organisations from Europe and beyond for a lively 3-day event. Conference and study tour welcomed almost 100 participants and 22 speakers from 19 countries - Europe and beyond. The event wasn’t just about the speeches and presentations. It offered great networking opportunities – even 124 B2B meetings were held onboard.
The conference and study tour was organised within the framework of the Go LNG project, which is focused on the development of demand and accessibility of LNG in the Baltic Region. The project activities are aimed at the implementation of the EU Clean Fuel Strategy and the EU Directive on Deployment of Alternative Fuel Infrastructure in order to establish a strategic approach for the development of LNG infrastructure and promote its usage in the transport industry.
LNG: Best Fuel of the Future conference and study tour was opened by Mr. Andrius Sutnikas, (Klaipeda Science and Technology Park) Project Leader, who welcomed all participants and gave the floor to Morten Larsen, CTO of Fjord Line to greet the participants. Four key sessions concentrated on Regulatory Update, Distribution Costs, LNG Business Case, LNG Global Opportunities and culminated with B2B matchmaking meetings.
Mr. Rouzbeh Rasai from Norwegian NOx gave a key note presentation and encouraged LNG stakeholders to consider new projects as NOx fund programmes will most likely conclude after 2025.
The first session concentrated on the Regulatory update: LNG Bunkering Procedures and Possibilities. Ole Vidar Nilsen, DNV GL reviewed the current and future regulatory landscape. Mr. Nilsen underlined that scrubber installations are still the main competitor to LNG propelled vessels, however, he emphasized that by 2050 one third of the vessels worldwide should be utilizing LNG.
Ship to ship LNG procedures and possibilities were highlighted by Mr. Christoffer Lillhage, Operation Manager, PFSO, Gothenburg Port Authority. A case study of the Port of Gothenburg was presented stating the cooperation with the Port of Rotterdam and Ports of Stockholm and successful STS bunkering procedures in the port authority.
Knut Førland, Managing Director, Liquiline LNG, gave a concrete overview of the LNG Ship Bunkering – from the idea to operations. Liquiline’s experience in Europe and successful projects worldwide were presented.
The Regulatory session concluded with a presentation by Mr. Karol Wieczorek, Regional Manager, Cryogas updating on the standardization for LNG for road filling stations and trucks in Poland. Cryogas concentrates on LNG sales and distribution, construction of LNG facilities and LNG supply for maritime bunkering.
The second panel of presentations focused on the LNG Distribution Costs for Different Transport Modes.
Mr. Morten Larsen, CTO - an official representative of the hosting Fjord Line. Mr. Larsen introduced Fjord Line as a modern and innovative shipping company and clarified the distribution costs for bunkering by terminal. In addition, participants were informed that there are still active financing programmes for infrastructure investments within EU, namely the TEN-T, CEF and the Norwegian NOx Fund.
An alternative and flexible Small Scale LNG Bunkering solution was introduced by Mr. Frej Olsen, Business Development Manager, Kosan Crisplant. Mr. Olsen concentrated on Kosan Crisplant long experience and worldwide presence. A flexible truck to ship bunkering solution was presented through a successful case study from the ”Samsø” project.
Furthermore, Mr. Gunnar Helmen, Sales Manager from SkanGas gave a good example on how to develop an LNG supply chain. More details on company’s LNG portfolio and utilization within marine and industry sectors and ship-to-ship bunkering operations were presented.
The session continued with a presentation of the expected Distribution Costs for the LNG Value Chain by Mr. Jan Schubert, Manager Sales & Business Development, Nauticor Gmbh & Co. Nauticor is a part of The Linde Group and is active worldwide with a global presence in more than 100 countries and with a comprehensive experience in Europe and the Baltic Sea Region. Furthermore, Mr. Schubert underlined the company’s operations as a dedicated supplier of LNG as a marine fuel that covers the entire value chain.
Mr. Sergei Jefimov, Technical Development Manager, Eesti Gaas concluded the first day presentations by sharing the successful experience from the LNG bunkering of M/S Megastar in Tallinn, Estonia. The oldest Estonian energy company is owner of the largest distribution network of natural gas and LNG and currently has developed a solid TTS LNG bunkering capability.
A technical experience was provided by the event organisers - LIVE LNG Bunkering of M/S Stavangerfjord was overseen by the majority of conference participants. A pipe to ship LNG bunkering was performed at Risavika LNG terminal in Stavanger, Norway.
Go LNG Project, with the support of Kosan Crisplant, Denmark hosted an evening reception providing a great networking opportunity and the first conference day concluded on a positive note with Go LNG networking dinner.
The second day of the Go LNG conference provided more practical and networking experience as conference session three tackled the building of successful business cases for LNG.
The successful business case of Klaipedos Nafta was shared by Mr. Nerijus Strazdauskas, Senior Coordinator, Commercial Operations Unit. Klaipedos Nafta latest achievements, FSRU Independence and small scale LNG bunkering station were presented. Short and long term company LNG intentions were shared with presence within the Baltic Sea Region.
How to meet the operational requirements was clarified by Mr. John Hansen, Vetting Manager, Furetank Rederi. Furetank Group provides technical, safety, crewing and commercial management services to external partners while highlighting company’s green and environmental profile.
Challenges related to the Supply Chain Limitations were underlined by Henrik Rousing, Business Developer from Eniig. Successful Green LNG A/S was presented, LNG and Biogas supply chain and the link between Biogas Production and LBNG Users.
An example of case study on LNG Bunkering Solution in Rotterdam was shared by Martial Claudepierre, Regional Manager of Technical Innovation, Bureau Veritas. LNG fueled innovative projects and vessels, LNG fuel tank technologies and propulsion design as well as LNG bunkering methods presented.
LNG, blending and BioGas opportunities were presented by Mr. Knud Tybirk, Project Manager, Samsø Municipality, Samsø Shipping. The leading case study- from field to ferry and the usage of biogas, flexibility of the project and possible implementation within other coastal communities in the BSR discussed.
The morning session concluded with more details on the operation of marine gas engines shared by Kaj Portin, General Manager, Research & Technology Programs, Wärtsilä Finland.
Guided tour - “LNG from the Engine to the Bridge” gave an exciting experience of the LNG propelled engines of M/S Stavangerfjord.
Match LNG - a matchmaking B2B event followed up in the afternoon providing an excellent opportunity for meeting valuable LNG partners.
Go LNG Networking Reception and Networking Dinner successfully concluded the second day of the conference.
Session five kicked off the third conference day and focused on the global opportunities for LNG Infrastructure Development - for Current and Future LNG Markets.
Enabling LNG Projects by Simplifying the Marine Facility’ by Tonje Sunde, Marine Manager, Connect LNG AS. The need of cleaner energy on global scale was emphasized and First UTS – “la Santa Maria” project experience shared.
An alternative LNG for Rail – LNG Hybrid Shunting Locomotive was presented by Albertas Bajorinas, General Director, Vilnius Locomotive Repair Depot. The design of innovative locomotive powered by LNG and applicability of LNG for rail introduced.
Alternative LNG Supply Systems & Bunkering Solutions’ by Kristoffer Lorentsson, Sales Manager, MAN Cryo. Company’s global presence and LNG advantages shared. LNG Bunkering pipeline in port of Gothenburg experiance presented and LNG Trailer fuelgas system advantiges highlited.
Global SOx, NOx and CO₂ Caps’ by Aykut I. Ölçer, Professor, World Maritime University of the IMO. Mr. Ölçer gave a comprehensive approach to air polution and presented key pillars of maritime energy management. Furthermore, ECA and NECA areas, IMO responce to the problems, Future Ship Propulsion as well as other challenges and barriers were shared.
LNG Competence Development – for Ship, Trucks and Terminals’ was introduced by Stefan Jankowski, Assistant Professor Maritime University of Szczecin. Mr. Jankowski presented the BSR LNG Competences Centre: its members, scope, target groups and time schedule of trainings within the Baltic Sea Region.
Best Fuel of the Future – Conference and Study Tour closing remarks and summary was given by Mr. Andrius Sutnikas, Go LNG Project leader. Key LNG stakeholders expressed their satisfaction with the quality and networking opportunities of the conference and discussed Go LNG future events and dissemination activities.
Presentations can be found HERE.
