HONG KONG: The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) is calling on more ports to be preparing for liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering, the MPA announced in a statement.
According to CE Andrew Tan, Asia presents a prominent LNG opportunity, given that many of the world’s most important shipping routes travel through the area.
The hope is that more cooperation among Asian ports will hasten the development of LNG in the region, especially as Tan believes Asia is behind other parts of the world.
“The high costs involved in building or retrofitting LNG-fuelled vessels, and the need for further development of LNG bunkering infrastructure in ports, necessitates governmental intervention to make LNG widely adopted as a marine fuel,” he said.
“While LNG bunkering is likely to take off for short sea voyages in its initial stages, MPA hopes to promote greater discussions and cooperation amongst global hub ports interested in providing LNG bunkering for short sea and ocean going vessel.”
It was previously reported that Singapore is currently considering granting more than one LNG bunkering licence over the next two years leading up 2017, the date by which the city-state expects to begin offering LNG bunkering.
Earlier this week, Ship & Bunker also reported that the MPA foresees the LNG bunkering industry as being self-regulated, with state intervention minimized.
