POSEIDON MED partners hold Technical Workshop on LNG Bunkering Operations at Piraeus Port

 Poseidon Med technical workshop on LNG Bunkering at the Piraeus Port was held at the Piraeus Port Authority premises this week from Monday 8 to Wednesday 10 June. Partners from Greece and Italy, including shipping companies, port authorities, designers and supply chain stakeholders gathered to discuss on technology, operational and regulatory issues for LNG bunkering operations in port.

Thanos Koliopulos, Global Special Projects Manager of Lloyd’s Register in London, a specialized gas projects expert, focused on the Concept Evaluation and Safety Case aspects of bunkering operations, was the facilitator of the workshop. The scope has been to undertake an effective and efficient Risk Assessment and operability study of the proposed site and facilities which will enable the Port of Piraeus to undertake LNG bunkering operations.

On the first day an onsite survey was organised in the main passenger Piraeus port and at the Car Terminal at Ikonio which was the initiating point for this study. During the survey, the feasible types of bunkering operations and appropriate sites within the port were discussed.

Throughout the workshop, critical points around the issue of LNG bunkering potential in Piraeus were discussed under the lead of Mr. Koliopulos. There was a live participation from all the attendees and matters like safety zones, simultaneous operations, size and numbers of bunkering barges, capability for re- loading LNG cargo locally or at remote location, impact of LNG bunker barge traffic in the Port Authority traffic operations, preliminary evaluation of bunkering systems for service at port including initial operations using LNG trucks and Port/ bunker barge, operating crew competence standards, were discussed.

The Open group discussions throughout the workshop with all team specialists having a direct input into the proceedings led to the identification of a number of operational matters and resultant operating consequences, together with safeguards/mitigating measures and recommendations to be addressed by the project. A list of areas for further action and assessment was developed and this is to be further detailed by the project partners.

Next ‘Rendez-vous’ was arranged for end-June when the stakeholders conference is scheduled. This is going to be a grand event to be held at Zappeion in order to disseminate the developments so far as well as the prospects of the project to stakeholders and the wide public. A relevant technical workshop on vessels retrofits for LNG as fuel is to follow on the first two days of July.