Joint industry project on assessing requirements for LNG bunkering in Australia

The study aims to cover the infrastructure and regulatory requirements as well as the potential benefits and risks faced by energy majors, ports and shipowners considering LNG-fuelled vessels. It concentrates on LNG-fuelled offshore supply vessels (OSV) and tugs plying in Australian waters, but the key recommendations developed will be valid for most ship types. Geographically, the focus will be on the ports of Dampier, Darwin and Melbourne.
Key obstacles in promoting LNG-fuelled ships will be identified, with an initial consideration of adequate infrastructure and existing regulations, which in Australia is complicated by the diverse state-based legislative schemes, DNV said. Safety is of utmost importance for such a development and ports will face the challenge of offering safe storage and ship-specific bunkering of LNG. These challenges will also be incorporated in the study.
Project goals include an assessment of the regulatory framework and infrastructure necessary for LNG bunkering at the federal level and for selected states. By the end of 2012 the JIP will deliver a gap analysis and a map of legal and infrastructural challenges and opportunities. It will also produce internal and external reports covering key areas for improvements as well as recommendations on the direction and steps to be taken in the LNG fuel domain for the benefit of the Australian maritime industry.
The JIP aims to give the required exposure to LNG as a fuel and to provide objective informations to be used in subsequent detailed studies in triggered LNG bunkering initiatives.
In addition to DNV, which will manage the JIP, the involved organisations are the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), BOC Limited (Linde Group), Farstad Shipping Pty Ltd, Ports Australia, Rolls-Royce Marine AS, Svitzer Australia, Swire Pacific Offshore Operations (Pte) Ltd, Teekay Shipping (Australia) Pty Lt. and Woodside Energy Ltd.