S/F SamueLNG for a Blue Atlantic Arch

State

In progress

Description

The blue growth of the economy requires the incorporation of blue energy that favors the competitiveness of the industry through cost reduction and a lower environmental impact. The main characteristic of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is its ability to be transformed from gas to liquid, which facilitates its storage and transportation. The liquefying process involves cooling the gas (−162 ° C) and removing certain impurities such as CO2. LNG can be stored and transported taking up less space, needing less infrastructure - without pipes - and with less environmental risk. This fuel emerges as a fundamental alternative for maritime and road transport, being included by the EU among its development priorities.

The challenge for the sustainable incorporation of LNG in the maritime field is found in the adaptation of the storage tanks on ships, for their use, in bunkering tasks and in the creation of a European LNG corridor. Furthermore, this implies the need to launch actions related to research, training and investment in new infrastructures.

The SAMUEL LNG project aims to contribute to the incorporation of LNG in the Atlantic Corridor, and specifically in the ports involved. For this, the adaptation of a dredging ship in France, the Samuel de Champlain, will be carried out and the development of innovative solutions for the supply of LNG in the ports of Vigo and Gijón.

The completion of these activities will represent an important step for the use of LNG as a fuel source in maritime transport.

The successful implementation of SAMUEL will allow progress in a second phase - not financed in this project - in the construction of the onshore supply unit in Gijón and the floating platform in Vigo. This will make the Port of Vigo a reference in LNG at the Atlantic level, favoring the definitive incorporation of this energy source in maritime and fishing transport and beyond as a supply point in the Atlantic corridor.

The project has four main activities:

• The development of an innovative LNG supply process, which includes: estudy of safety and risks in the handling of LNG in the Port of Nantes; bunkering study in the Port of Gijon; technical design of a floating platform for the supply of LNG in Port of Vigo. 
• The conversion to LNG of the dredger Samuel de Champlain in France.
• The design and implementation of a staff training program that operates with
• The evaluation of the pilot actions.
• The organization of a conference to disseminate the results, which will be held in the Port of Vigo (July 2017).

Specifically, focusing on activities related to the Port of Vigo, it is expected to develop: 

- Technical design of a floating device (barge) for the supply of LNG.

- Study on the potential of supplying LNG to a Ro-Ro ship of the shipping company Suardiaz, which operates the Motorway of the Sea between Vigo and ANntes.

This study will simulate the LNG supply operation with the -designed- supply barge with the assumption that the RORO vessel operating on the Motorway of the Sea is equipped with dual gas engines. This study will take into account: the evaluation of the security of supply conditions in the Port of Vigo, the analysis of the supply operation, the analysis of economic impact, the analysis of environmental impact (emissions, energy efficiency) in Port of Vigo and in the Motorway of the Sea.

Expected results

• Increased knowledge about the economic and environmental impact of LNG on maritime transport in the Port of Vigo, within the framework of the Motorway of the Sea and the Atlantic Corridor.
• Provision of a technical design for the construction of a floating barge that will allow the Port of Vigo to be a point of supply for LNG
• The Port of Vigo becomes a reference in LNG supply.

Contribution

The SAMUEL LNG project contributes to the consolidation of the Port of Vigo as a:

• Green and Innovative Port committed to Blue Energy, since it will contribute to using LNG as fuel in ships, having a viable, efficient and safe supply structure.
• Inclusive Port by strengthening through the incorporation of LNG the creation of a new professional activity, which is in turn reinforced, with concrete training actions.

Current state

With the activities corresponding to the port of Vigo already completed, the project goes to its next phase, throughout activities related to the conversion to LNG of the dredge (France), actions related to training and the progress of the necessary impact studies, so that in 2019 it can carry out the simulation study of a bunkering operation with a RORO on the Motorway of the Sea.

Last July 2017, as part of the development of the GEPC (Green Energy Port Conference) organized by the Port Authority of Vigo, a conference was held in which the results obtained were presented to professionals in the sector from all over the world.

This project is related to the work line of the Blue Growth Vigo Blue Energy, LNG. It is financed by the European CEF Transport program.

It is possible to consult updated information through its website: http://www.samuelng.eu/es/