PitPoint.LNG opens Europe’s first permanent LNG bunkering station

Today, Total joint venture partner PitPoint.LNG opens Europe’s first shore-to-ship Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) bunkering station for inland shipping at the Niehler Hafen in Cologne. The opening of this station represents a concrete step towards facilitating clean maritime transport. The new LNG bunkering station is part of PitPoint.LNG’s plans to develop a European LNG infrastructure for heavy-duty transport by road and water and is co-financed by the European Union. The strategic location of the station between Basel and Rotterdam and good access to the location were the main reasons for choosing the Port of Cologne.

LOWER EMISSIONS AND IMPROVED AIR QUALITY

LNG is the cleanest fossil fuel currently available for heavy-duty and long-distance maritime transport. The biggest benefit of using LNG lies in the reduced emission of fine particulates and NOₓ. Based on current European emission standards (CCNR II), LNG-fuelled engines produce 20% less CO₂, at least 80% less NOₓ and more than 99% less fine particulates than diesel-powered engines. The significant reduction in these harmful substances will have a direct positive impact on air quality. LNG is also seen as a transition fuel and as a step towards even cleaner and CO2-neutral bio-LNG.

FASTER TRANSIT FOR LNG-FUELLED VESSELS

With the new shore-to-ship bunkering station in place along Europe’s busiest waterway, another positive step has been taken in developing the LNG infrastructure required for facilitating the uptake of LNG as fuel for maritime transport. The new shore-to-ship bunkering station significantly expedites the bunkering process. Where LNG-fuelled vessels were required to submit a request and schedule an appointment to purchase LNG from a truck-to-ship bunkering station, shore-to-ship bunkering can now be done faster and easier via the station’s powerful pumps. Moreover, the shore-to-ship bunker station is open 24/7, with professional service engineers on call to provide bunkering services. In the near future, the station will be able to fuel two vessels at the same time.

"´´We are very proud to welcome Europe’s first permanent LNG bunker station at our port in Cologne. This is another building block in our approach to focus on sustainable and environmentally friendly transport. LNG is known to be a reliable and clean alternative fuel, which helps reduce pollutant emissions in particular. That is why we see the use of LNG as an important step towards a sustainable future for logistics´´

Jan Sönke Eckel and Wolfgang Birlin, Managing Directors of RheinCargo"

The opening of the LNG bunkering station is an important step forward for transport by water. LNG meets the most stringent emission standards and makes cleaner transport possible. The bunkering station is the result of a supply chain collaboration. Together with shippers, port companies, shipping companies, transport companies and support of the European Union, we have worked hard to make European inland shipping more sustainable.  

This publication reflects the opinion of the author only. The European Union is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.

ABOUT PITPOINT.LNG 

PitPoint.LNG B.V. is a joint venture between Total Gas Mobility B.V. and SHV Energy B.V. which focuses on the realisation and operation of LNG infrastructure for the automotive and maritime sectors. PitPoint.LNG currently has four LNG stations for heavy road transport in the Netherlands (in Zwolle, Den Hoorn, Roosendaal and Venlo) and one in Belgium, in Rekkem. In addition, PitPoint.LNG is working hard to develop new LNG refuelling stations for both trucks and ships in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. 

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EDITOR'S NOTE, NOT FOR PUBLICATION 

As per the 1st of January, an LNG incentive scheme took effect in The Netherlands. The scheme offers an 18.7 Eurocent discount per kilogram of LNG purchased between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2021. Read more information here.  

CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION

PitPoint.LNG 
Patty Vinagre de Freitas 
Marketing & Communication Officer
Email: [email protected]
Mob: +31 (0)61 274 1298