Ports of Stockholm claims first in the world to provide infrastructure for liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel for large passenger ferries.
A successful collaboration involving AGA, Viking Line, Ports of Stockholm and the appropriate government agencies has made an infrastructure for bunkering possible.
"Our new passenger ferry, M/S Viking Grace, represents an environmental milestone, and the ability to provide LNG bunkering opportunities is a very important piece of the jigsaw in our environmental work. That is why we are very pleased that the solution for LNG bunkering is now in place," explains Viking Line's Technical Director, Tony Öhman.
"It is very rewarding that, thanks to our LNG terminal in Nynäshamn and our bunkering vessel Seagas, we can contribute to an infrastructure that has made it possible for M/S Viking Grace to bunker LNG from vessel to vessel at Ports of Stockholm. LNG provides major environmental benefits in comparison to traditional maritime fuels," says Jan Bäckvall, CEO of AGA AB.
"We are extremely proud to be able to offer LNG at Ports of Stockholm. Together with Viking Line and AGA we have solved the important permit issues, built an infrastructure and established good bunkering procedures. We will also be able to utilise this experience in future LNG infrastructure solutions," says Helena Bonnier, Chair of the Board of Directors at Ports of Stockholm.
On 20 March 2013 Helena Bonnier performed the naming ceremony to launch Seagas, the new AGA bunkering vessel. Seagas will be stationed at Loudden and will provide M/S Viking Grace with LNG on a daily basis, using an entirely new vessel to vessel bunkering process.