Busan Port Authority Successfully Completes Busan Port's First LNG Bunkering Demonstration Project

Gammanbudu, 1500t LNG Supply to Car Carriers Using 'Ship-to-Ship Method'

Busan Port Authority (BPA, President Kang Jun-seok) announced that the first 'Ship to Ship (STS) method' LNG bunkering at Busan Port was successfully carried out on the 13th and 14th at Bukhang Gammam Pier.

The LNG bunkering vessel Blue Whale is bunkering LNG fuel to a car carrier.

This bunkering, conducted as a demonstration project led by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, targeted a foreign car carrier vessel berthed at Gammam Pier No. 1 berth.

The LNG bunkering vessel connected a hose to the fuel tank of the car carrier and supplied 1,500 tons of LNG needed for the vessel's journey to its destination.

This is the first LNG bunkering achievement secured at Busan Port, and it is expected to have a positive impact on revitalizing the Busan Port bunkering market, enhancing global port competitiveness, and establishing an eco-friendly port.

Busan Port Authority plans to actively promote this successful LNG bunkering demonstration case to global shipping companies and utilize it for Busan Port marketing.

Through this demonstration project, the first verification of the 'LNG Bunkering and Simultaneous Cargo Handling Safety Accident Response Manual (draft)' prepared last October was successfully completed, and additional verifications such as LNG supply and simultaneous cargo handling demonstration for container ships will be conducted in the future.

Also, BPA will lead the preparation and sharing of a manual that can be used by Busan Port container terminal operators during LNG supply.

According to the International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s greenhouse gas reduction strategy, orders and operations of LNG-powered vessels are continuously increasing, making the availability of eco-friendly ship fuel supply (such as LNG) a key indicator of future port competitiveness.

While major overseas ports have actively supplied LNG via ships since the early 2000s, domestic LNG supply via ship-to-ship methods within ports has not been actively conducted due to lack of supply records and safety concerns.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries designated Korea LNG Bunkering, the only domestic LNG bunkering dedicated vessel operator, as a demonstration project operator for eco-friendly ship fuel supply within ports.

BPA provided benefits such as reduced port facility usage fees for vessels participating in the demonstration project and operated a consultative body with related agencies to support safety management, ensuring the successful ship-to-ship LNG supply (bunkering) within Busan Port for the first time.

Additionally, in November last year, BPA signed a memorandum of understanding to promote mutual cooperation for eco-friendly ship fuel bunkering in the Southeast region ports and participates in the 'Eco-friendly Ship Fuel Bunkering Consultative Body' to actively promote LNG bunkering at Busan Port.

BPA President Kang Jun-seok stated, “Busan Port is the world's 7th largest global logistics hub based on container throughput, but the conditions for eco-friendly ship fuel (such as LNG) bunkering have been insufficient, limiting support for global shipping companies' eco-friendly fleet operations. We will continuously strive to ensure that Busan Port plays an active role in supplying eco-friendly ship fuels and pioneers new markets, building on this successful demonstration.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.