According to the Chinese state media CCTV News, China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) has announced that Hong Kong’s first ship-to-ship offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering operation was successfully completed at Cheung Chau South Anchorage in Hong Kong. The success of the marine LNG bunkering operation is of great significance to Hong Kong in promoting the green transformation of the shipping industry.
The bunkered vessel “ZIM Aquamarine” departed from Busan, South Korea and traveled through Qingdao, Shanghai and Ningbo in China before arriving at Hong Kong, with Istanbul, Turkey as its final destination. The 7-hour bunkering of 2,200 tons of ultra-low temperature liquefied natural gas (ULCNG) at Cheung Chau South Anchorage in Hong Kong was able to meet the vessel’s fuel requirements for the entire voyage.
Fu Bin, Deputy Chief Economist of CNPC, emphasized the significance of this operation for the upgrading of port clusters in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, as well as its role in promoting the exchange and cooperation of clean energy technologies in the Asia-Pacific region. As a crucial window for China’s opening-up and an economic engine, the green transformation of the ports in the Greater Bay Area not only helps enhance the region’s competitiveness but also provides valuable experience for other areas, leading the global maritime industry’s green development trend.
Fu Bin, Deputy Chief Economist of CNPC, emphasized the significance of this operation for the upgrading of port clusters in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, as well as its role in promoting the exchange and cooperation of clean energy technologies in the Asia-Pacific region. As a crucial window for China’s opening-up and an economic engine, the green transformation of the ports in the Greater Bay Area not only helps enhance the region’s competitiveness but also provides valuable experience for other areas, leading the global maritime industry’s green development trend.
Fu Bin, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kunlun Energy, said that the bunkering operation is not only a milestone in helping Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Greater Bay Area to build an international shipping hub and promoting the green transformation of Hong Kong’s shipping industry, but also an important initiative to actively respond to the national “dual-carbon” strategy and support Hong Kong’s efforts to build a green bunker fuel bunkering center.
It is reported that, compared with traditional marine fuel, LNG can make particulate matter and sulfide basically reach “zero emission”, while reducing 85% of nitrogen oxide emissions, with green, environmental protection, energy saving, safety and other advantages.
Ms. Chen Meibao, the Secretary for Transport and Logistics of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, stated that the SAR government released the “Action Plan for Green Marine Fuel Bunkering” in November last year, addressing the market’s growing demand for fuel. The completion of this bunkering operation through the collaboration between Hong Kong and Shenzhen demonstrates the complementary advantages of ports within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. In the future, Hong Kong will continue to engage in more cooperation with cities in the region and other provinces and municipalities in the supply of fuel.