PAN-LNG-4-DANUBE

Closed

NEED AND ADDED VALUE FOR THE DANUBE REGION STRATEGY: The project’s overall objective is to foster the use of LNG in the inland navigation sector across the Danube, therefore contributing to the European alternative fuels implementation strategy. The project, including a study and a real-life pilot deployment, is implemented in the core port of Csepel-Freeport, the biggest inland port in Hungary and a crossroad for flows and transshipment of freight between inland waterway, rail and road transport. It is located in the southern part of Budapest on the Rhine-Danube Core Network Corridor. OBJECTIVE(S) OF THE PROJECT: The aim is to: - Accelerate LNG availability for Danube inland waterway transport. - Contribute to the European alternative fuels implementation strategy. The first specific objective is to understand all necessary technical, economic and customer-related requirements to ensure innovative, modular and openly accessible LNG offshore bunkering for inland waterway vessels and onshore refueling services for long haulage trucks, as well as, at a later stage, for trains. The second specific objective is to understand and meet all the requirements linked to the first stages of the development of an LNG ship-to-ship bunkering vessel, up to its technical design. The last specific objective is to build technical, financial and commercial real-life experience related to the operations of onshore LNG bunkering and LNG-propelled vessels on the Danube, through two pilots: - one pilot for the innovative LNG bunkering and refueling station for vessels and trucks in the Freeport of Csepel, and, - one pilot to retrofit and operate a freight vessel with LNG propulsion. Collection and exploitation of operational data will contribute to drawing conclusions and making recommendations for the future LNG roll-out along the Danube and in the EU. PLANNED PROJECT ACTIVITIES: Deployment of a fixed LNG refueling station at this tri-modal core port. This station would serve not only LNG-propelled vessels but also LNG trucks and later possibly trains as well. In addition, the project foresees to retrofit existing vessels with LNG propulsion. The project will study the design of the innovative LNG related infrastructure, implement it and will disseminate appropriate related results. TRANSBOUNDARY IMPACT: The solutions are applicable to all Danube countries. PROJECT BENEFICIARIES / TARGET GROUPS: The list of beneficiaries comprises barge operators, port authorities, shipyards, technology providers, energy industry, research organisations, etc.

Medium