Gate terminal (main shareholders Gasunie and Royal Vopak) has announced the ceremonial start of the construction activities for the new LNG break bulk infrastructure at its site at the Maasvlakte in Rotterdam.
The Port of Rotterdam has begun with the excavation of a new harbour basin next to Gate terminal. The new facility is expected to boost the use of LNG as a cleaner and affordable transportation fuel in the Netherlands and Northwest Europe. At Gate terminal, LNG is received, stored, reloaded or regasified for the Northwest European gas grid. These activities have formed the basis for the current development of small-scale services.
Construction
The new infrastructure will be located next to Gate terminal. The Port of Rotterdam Authority will build a new harbour basin and quay wall, which is planned to be delivered end of 2015. Gate will construct the LNG installations, including berthing and loading facilities dedicated to bunkerships and smaller tankers enabling LNG bunker operations in the port of Rotterdam and further distribution of LNG in Northwest Europe.
The new facilities are based on a multi-user service model, open to all interested parties, and will have a maximum capacity of 280 berthing slots per year. The finalisation of the construction, commissioning and first loading operations are planned towards the end of H1 2016.
Leading LNG Hub
The Port of Rotterdam Authority is involved in this project with the design and construction of a dedicated harbour basin for LNG break bulk operations and has already introduced new regulations that allow LNG bunkering for inland barges and ship-to-ship bunkering of seagoing vessels. The final result will put Rotterdam firmly in place as leading European hub for the complete LNG supply chain. In 2016, a full scope of supply services for LNG will be available in the port of Rotterdam.
Shell LNG Bunker Vessel
Shell, as launching customer, has committed to buy capacity from Gate terminal, which has enabled this investment in the terminal expansion. Shell has recently ordered a specialised LNG bunker vessel, to supply LNG-fuelled vessels in Northwest Europe. The new vessel will be based at the port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands, and will load from the new LNG break bulk infrastructure.
European Union’s TEN-T programme
The project is key to facilitate LNG distribution and to secure LNG supply in Northwest European ports, such as Gothenburg. The maritime connection between Rotterdam and this area is regarded as a part of the EU ‘motorways of the sea’ concept and has therefore been selected for co-financing under the European Union's TEN-T programme.
Picture: The Port of Rotterdam is already working on the new quay wall for Gate's LNG Break Bulk Facility (by Ries van Wendel de Joode).
