Pyeongtaek Port Successfully Fuels First 'Eco-Friendly LNG' Vessel

[News S=Kim Jong-sik, Senior Reporter] The Gyeonggi Pyeongtaek Port Authority announced on the 18th that it successfully supplied 1,290 metric tons of eco-friendly liquefied natural gas (LNG) to a large car carrier at Pyeongtaek International Auto Terminal for the first time since the port's opening.

With the success of this first pilot operation, Pyeongtaek Port has laid the groundwork for full-scale commercial eco-friendly vessel fuel supply (bunkering) and further enhanced its international port competitiveness.

Regarding the significance of LNG bunkering, the authority explained that as environmental regulations by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) continue to strengthen, ports capable of LNG fuel bunkering are recognized as 'eco-friendly ports that comply with regulations.'

LNG bunkering, which supplies LNG as fuel to vessels as an alternative to bunker C oil, is a new high-value-added industry that ports such as Busan, Ulsan, Rotterdam, and Singapore are already strategically developing. Therefore, the success of this pilot bunkering signals that Pyeongtaek Port is ready to enter this market.

On this day, the bunkering vessel 'Blue Whale,' operated by Korea LNG Bunkering Co., Ltd., supplied 1,290 metric tons of LNG without any issues to the 'Lake Shirasagi,' a representative car carrier of Ukokacarriers Co., Ltd., which operates from Pyeongtaek Port.

Following this test operation, Ukokacarriers will secure bunkering vessel schedules and plans to continuously receive eco-friendly fuel supply at Pyeongtaek Port as additional LNG-powered vessels are introduced.

Through this, Pyeongtaek Port is expected to supply LNG fuel on 5 of 8 total car carrier service routes, solidifying its position as a true 'eco-friendly vessel fuel supply port.'

Previously, the authority moved quickly to develop Pyeongtaek Port as an eco-friendly port. Last November, it established infrastructure by signing a 'Pyeongtaek Port Carbon-Neutral Green Hydrogen Port Development' memorandum of understanding with relevant agencies and major companies, and also signed a letter of intent (LOI) with Belgium's Port of Antwerp-Bruges to jointly build a 'Green Shipping Corridor' based on eco-friendly fuels.

Kim Geum-gyou, acting president of Gyeonggi Pyeongtaek Port Authority, stated, "Through this LNG bunkering pilot operation, Pyeongtaek Port has earned recognition from the shipping industry for its strong eco-friendly port competitiveness. Moving forward, we will spare no effort in support to ensure that Pyeongtaek Port emerges as a world-class port leading the transition to eco-friendly fuel supply."