Bunkering

As of 1 January 2020, the International Marine Organization (IMO) enforced stricter emission requirements, with the grand aim of improving the environment and the health of the world's population. The aim is to curb sulphur emissions and have a mandatory requirement to switch to lower sulphur shipping fuels, with a 0.5 wt% global sulphur cap for marine fuels used in international shipping.

Owing to this factor, the LNG and renewables bunkering market is expected to witness significant growth in the years to come, as LNG is likely to be an economic and greener marine fuel alternative.

Discuss your bunkering project

Bunkering facilities

Many ports are investing heavily in LNG and renewable fuel infrastructure for bunkering purposes. With IMO catalysing change in the shipping industry, this creates a good basis for establishing an infrastructure of small- and medium-scale terminals, bunker vessels and trucks for supplying LNG as a bunker fuel.

New infrastructure can be costly, and the only way to improve return on investment is combining economies of scale, flexible migration strategies and innovative technical solutions to reduce overall investment risk.

Challenges with Bunkering

SIMOPS: Safety zones can be challenging for simultaneous bunkering when passengers and cargo are also transferring between ship and quay.
Available infrastructure: Existing ports with LNG bunkering facilities are unable to cater for small-scale vessels.
Real Estate: Existing ports are congested – any additional expansion with fixed infrastructure will be extremely challenging.
Cost: Bunkering facilities are costly and normally requires high customers in high volume so the return on investment is sufficiently attractive.

Bunkering nearshore

The IQuay™ systems can be used to bunker any size vessel nearshore, thus eliminating the need for trucks, bunker vessel or bunker station in port.
The IQuay systems can accommodate dual project applications from the same onshore or offshore terminal; unloading of LNG for gas-to-power, and loading capabilities when in bunkering mode, thereby supporting capacity balance at the terminal.
Nearshore bunkering effectively addresses the challenges of meeting international standards for LNG facilities and allows for a more rapid uptake of LNG or other renewable fuel types such as ammonia, as a marine fuel.

Bunkering in ports

Flexible: A fully floating system that can be retracted and stored when not in use.
Plug & Play: Turn-key bunkering infrastructure when combined with onshore storage.
Universal: The loading system can be connected to a range in ship sizes and can be painlessly implemented into existing terminals.
SIMOPS: The system isolates bunkering operations from the pier/quay area, hence increases safety for cargo operation and boarding of passengers.
Autonomous: Electrical thrusters for propulsion – no need for tugs.
Flexible: Insulated rigid pipes combined with flexible joints ensures that the LNG remains at cryogenic temperatures.

Cost-efficient: Significantly lower CAPEX compared to dedicated bunkering vessels.

ECONNECT Energy's Bunkering Solutions

The IQuay is designed for flexibility, so customers can combine Gas-to-Power with Bunkering operations in one single IQuay.

Distance from shore
50 - 800 m

Environment
Sheltered to harsh conditions

Flowrate
500 - 1,000 m3/h

Transfer lines
Floating flexible hoses

Vessel size
All

Design life
25 years

Our bunkering from quayside solution is suitable to a wide range of vessels and can be stored when not in use.

Distance from shore
Up to 300 m

Environment
Sheltered conditions

Flowrate
500 - 1,000 m3/h

Transfer lines
Rigid pipe

Vessel size
All

Design life
25 years

The IQuay system portfolio

The IQuay C-Class

Proven, fully floating transfer system for secure, flexible ship-to-shore transfer of cryogenic fluids. Scalable and ideal for frequent operations.

The IQuay F-Class

Proven in global deployments. Mounted on FSRUs or FSUs, the F-Class enables continuous LNG and gas delivery in harsh conditions. No jetty required.

The IQuay Regas Terminal

With the R-Class, we can deliver storage, regas, and transfer in one modular system. Designed for fast-track deployment, flexibility and minimal environmental impact.