SHENZHEN International LNG Marine Fueling Center, the first offshore LNG fueling center for oceanic vessels in China, will be built in Yantian Port, according to an agreement signed Wednesday by Yantian District Government, PetroChina, Shenzhen Gas Group and Yantian Port Group.

Once operational, the fueling center can fuel 230,000 tons of LNG (liquefied natural gas) to vessels each year and generate 1.2 billion yuan (US$168.4 million) in revenue. In the long term, the fueling capacity will reach 2 million tons a year, and annual revenue will reach 10 billion yuan, Shenzhen Economic Daily reported.

As ports in China have a shortage of LNG fueling facilities for inbound oceanic vessels, such vessels need to fill up on LNG before coming to China, and thus setting a limit on such vessels being able to dock.

Statistics show the world had witnessed fast growth of LNG-powered fleet from 118 vessels in operation in 2017, to 143 in operation in 2019 with a further 135 on order. The use of LNG-powered vessels has also stimulated the construction of LNG fueling facilities at ports worldwide.

The construction of the fueling center will attract more LNG-fueled vessels to call at Chinese ports, build up Shenzhen Port’s strength as a green and intelligent sea port hub in the world and consolidate its position as an oceanic transportation center in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

“From energy saving and emission reduction perspective, the use of the LNG will reduce 86 percent of sulfur and 76 percent of nitrogen oxide compared with traditional fuel, so it has strong impetus for green development,” Li Guodong, deputy chief with Yantian Maritime Safety Administration, said at an interview.

The construction of the center is part of the effort of Yantian to upgrade the port from a sea freight logistics hub to a shipping hub that also needs support and synergy from other aspects such as international trade, international settlement, shipping service and the application of innovative technology and equipment, according to Luo Yi, deputy head of Yantian District Government.

The China Maritime Safety Administration unveiled measures in 2019 supporting Shenzhen’s construction of green and intelligent ports through applications of emission reduction technologies and building a vessel pollution monitoring network. Since the implementation of emissions control measures in October 2016, Shenzhen Port has reduced 18,000 tons of pollutants from vessel emissions. The air quality at Shenzhen Port area is higher than the national standards.

(Han Ximin)