A project being led by Central Dredging Association (CEDA) member Dragages Ports (DP) will see the Spanish dredging contractor’s 8,500m3 capacity trailing suction hopper dredger ‘Samuel de Champlain’ retrofitted from MGO to a dual source fuel system.
Sustainable project:
The EU co-funded CEF project is titled Spanish/French Sustainable Atlantic Motorways of the Seas Using as Fuel for Engine LNG, shortened to the S/F SamuelLNG Project. It is the first phase of the Global Project ‘Towards a Blue Atlantic Arch by 2025’. The overall project aims to improve the sustainability of marine traffic through the use of marine LNG as an environmentally friendly and cost effective alternative to conventional ship fuels for small vessels.
Curb gas emissions:
According to the ‘Third IMO Greenhouse Gas Study 2014’, marine transport emits some 1,000m tonnes of CO2 annually and is responsible for about 2.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Shipping emissions are predicted to increase by between 50% and 250% by 2050 depending on future economic and energy developments. Such increases are incompatible with the internationally agreed goal of keeping the global temperature increase below 2 degrees C compared to pre-industrial levels. The current goals require worldwide emissions to be at least halved from 1990 levels by 2050.
Sulphur cap implementation:
Subsequently, the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee has agreed that implementation of a 0.5% global sulphur cap on marine fuel will be brought forward to 2020 from the original proposed date of 2025. The S/F SamuelLNG Project will contribute to this by helping to achieve the objectives of two key EU Directives; Directive 2014/94/EU on the sustainability of European maritime transport and Directive 2012/33/EU on reduction in the sulphur content of marine fuels.
In addition to the retrofitting of the dredger, over the next three years the S/F SamuelLNG Project will also cover other key activities such LNG bunkering studies including a risk assessment in the port of Nantes Saint-Nazaire, a mobile bunkering unit in the Port of Gijon, and a floating device in the Port of Vigo (in conjunction with each of the port’s partners. There will be EIA studies in the ports of Rouen, Le Havre and Nantes Saint-Nazaire. Staff involved in LNG operations in the ports of Nantes Saint-Nazaire will receive training and the results of all studies will be disseminated to the maritime community.
Consortium formed:
The S/F SamuelLNG Project is coordinated by DP and supported by a consortium of 12 partners from along the Atlantic Arch, representing Spain, France, and the Netherlands. In addition to CEDA, the partners working with DP include five public port authorities; Nantes Saint-Nazaire (GPMNSN), Le Havre (GPMH), Rouen (GPMR), the Port Authority of Gijon (VAG), and the Port Authority of Vigo (APV). Also participating are the ship engineering and design companies Inova and Ghenova, energy supply companies EDP and GNF, and short sea shipping company Suardiaz (VN).
Dissemination of results:
CEDA will co-lead on activities relating to the dissemination of project results to the maritime community. The work will be supported by a CEDA Environment Commission Task Group. Over the three years in which the S/F SamuelLNG Project is scheduled to run, CEDA will work with project lead DP in the consortium in Spain and France to disseminate the latest information to members.
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Source: Maritime Journal
