Antwerp to gain new LNG bunker barge in early 2021

Fluxys and Titan LNG will soon be taking delivery of the FlexFueler 002 LNG bunkering barge to support the shipping industry in its switch to cleaner operations in the Antwerp port and region. The vessel will make LNG more widely available as an alternative shipping fuel from its home location at Quay 526/528 as from February 2021.

LNG is becoming increasingly more attractive as an alternative fuel in shipping: it immediately cuts sulphur and particulate emissions to negligible levels while emissions of nitrogen oxides are dramatically reduced.  The FlexFueler 002 and the other LNG bunkering infrastructure in the port of Antwerp have the benefit of not requiring additional investments to offer fully carbon neutral choices. Titan LNG, as the long-term operator of the bunkering barge, is confident to make available liquefied biogas (from organic waste) or liquefied synthetic methane (from green hydrogen and captured CO2) to LNG-powered vessels soon after the barge starts operations in February 2021.

The advantage of the FlexFueler 002 is its flexibility. Inland waterway vessels and coasters will have the option to get bunkered with LNG wherever they are loading or unloading their cargo. The bunkering barge will be operating from Quay 526/528 where Fluxys facilitates truck-to-ship bunkering and Titan LNG operates a permanent bunkering point for inland waterway vessels.

Fluxys and Titan LNG joined forces in early 2019 to build the FlexFueler 002 and shipbuilder Kooiman Marine recently delivered the vessel. Titan LNG is currently conducting the last trials and finalising crew training.

Pascal de Buck, CEO of Fluxys said, “We are proud to offer with our partner, Titan LNG, a key logistic link for the shipping industry to switch to cleaner operations in the Antwerp port and region. The prospect of introducing with our newly built bunkering barge fully carbon neutral options in the foreseeable future strengthens us in our commitment to press ahead with the energy transition.”

Ronald van Selm, CTO of Titan LNG added, “We would like to thank Kooiman Marine Group for building another landmark LNG bunker vessel. We are very anxious to add this vessel to our fleet of owned and chartered LNG bunker vessels. Building on the very fruitful cooperation during the development and building process, we are confident that together with Fluxys, LNG bunkering in Antwerp will be a daily business soon. Jointly with the Port of Antwerp, we have already delivered LNG numerous times with the FlexFueler001, so we can guarantee our customers the safety framework is in place and functioning.”