Lloyd’s Register recently won a Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore contract to develop the operational procedures and technical standards required to develop LNG bunkering capabilities in the Port of Singapore.

In the contracted work, which has already started, Lloyd’s Register will identify technical specifications, LNG bunkering procedures, and development of crew competency for LNG bunkering in the Port of Singapore, to support Singapore in following its ambitions to develop the capability and infrastructure to supply LNG as a fuel for ships.

Ng Kean Seng, Marine Country Manager for Lloyd’s Register in Singapore, said: “Singapore is supporting efforts to create a clean fuel future for global shipping by developing LNG bunkering operations. We are supporting Singapore in realising that ambition. We have assembled a global team experienced in addressing the requirements and in identifying what needs to be done to really address safety and the operational issues to make safe LNG bunkering possible.”

Lloyd’s Register will provide detailed guidance to MPA on what is required to ensure that the technical specifications of hardware are identified, the right operational procedures are established, port safety and emergency planning is provided for, and personnel competence can be developed effectively and put in place.

Earlier this year, the MPA said licensing requirements for LNG bunker suppliers and craft operators will be ready for industry consultation by the end of this year.

Singapore, one of the world’s largest hubs for bunkering, or the fuelling of marine vessels, is pushing towards developing capabilities for LNG bunkering as the use of gas as a transportation fuel increases.

Much of Lloyd’s Register’s experience is from decades of LNG carrier classification leadership and understanding ship-to-ship transfer of LNG. Ship-to-ship transfer has been a principal area of development for large scale transfer of gas.