Tenerife Completes First Truck-to-Ship LNG Bunkering | Mariner News

The Port of Tenerife in the Canary Islands has successfully executed its first truck-to-ship (TTS) LNG bunkering operation, supplying a Balearia fast ferry. This development significantly expands the port’s LNG bunkering capabilities, adding crucial operational flexibility for vessels calling at the port.

The operation involved two tanker trucks delivering 600 MWh of LNG to the Balearia fast ferry Mercedes Pinto at the Anaga Dock. The combined pumping rate reached 700 litres per minute. ESK carried out the bunkering, which required close coordination among the port authority, Balearia, and other parties to establish robust safety and emergency procedures.

Previously, the Port of Tenerife solely offered ship-to-ship (STS) LNG bunkering. The introduction of TTS and multi-truck-to-ship (MTTS) options directly addresses a request from Balearia for additional supply methods, enabling one or more trucks to fuel vessels from shore.

This strategic expansion of LNG bunkering options significantly enhances the port’s versatility and competitiveness as an energy hub for alternative fuels. For vessel operators, particularly those with fixed schedules like ferry services, the availability of truck-to-ship bunkering provides greater flexibility in managing port calls. It potentially allows for simultaneous cargo operations and fueling at different berths, thereby optimizing port turnaround times and reducing reliance on dedicated STS bunkering windows.

The development underscores a growing trend in port infrastructure to diversify LNG supply methods, catering to varied operational profiles and schedules of the expanding LNG-fueled fleet.