North Sea Port prepares port for alternative marine fuels: opportunities for new industrial value chains
North Sea Port is taking an important step towards enabling the bunkering of LNG, hydrogen, methanol and ammonia in Ghent, Terneuzen and Vlissingen. An independent risk analysis confirms that this can be done safely and efficiently, both truck-to-ship and ship-to-ship, and provides clarity on the conditions under which bunkering can be tested safely.
International shipping is rapidly switching from traditional fossil fuels to Net Zero Fuels. The NSP study looked beyond nautical safety, taking into account environmental and infrastructure aspects (such as roads, wind turbines, high-voltage power lines) and nearby industrial activities. The aim is to establish clear safety and infrastructure requirements for each fuel and to enable test bunkering.
The results have been compiled in the Port Readiness Marine Fuels study, which was produced in collaboration with other Belgian and Dutch ports, including the ports of Antwerp, Amsterdam, and Rotterdam. The study follows international guidelines and contributes to the harmonization of safety and bunkering standards across ports. In addition, a new bunkering map (in Dutch) has been developed for companies and governments, which provides insight into which alternative fuels can be bunkered where in the port area for each location. This map offers concrete guidance for future investment and licensing decisions.
From sustainable fuels to industrial and chemical value chains
This study is particularly relevant for Smart Delta Resources. SDR brings together industry, governments, network operators and knowledge institutions in the Flemish-Dutch port region to promote the sustainability of raw material- and energy-intensive sectors. The availability of alternative molecules such as methanol, ammonia and hydrogen is a crucial building block in several transition paths that our partners are already committed to today.
These molecules not only play a role in sustainable shipping, but also open the door to new industrial value chains. Methanol and ammonia, for example, can be used as energy carriers, but also as raw materials for chemical applications. Hydrogen, in turn, forms a link between renewable electricity, industrial processes and synthetic fuels.
The NSP study thus ties in with various themes that are currently being explored within the SDR network, such as circularity, CCUS, hydrogen, electrification and low-carbon molecules,. It demonstrates that infrastructure, safety and regulations can evolve hand in hand with industrial innovation. Furthermore, the study provides companies and governments with greater clarity about where and how these fuels can be used in the port region.
As a sustainable network organisation, SDR closely monitors these developments. By connecting partners and sharing knowledge, SDR contributes to a coherent approach to industrial transition in the North Sea Port region.
More information via North Sea Port.
