Low-sulphur fuel sales almost triple in 2015 at Port of Rotterdam
AT Europe's leading bunkering port of Rotterdam, sales of low-sulphur gas oil and diesel skyrocketed in 2015 to 1.8 million cubic metres, up from 700,000 cubic metres in 2014, due to more stringent sulphur requirements for ships operating in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea regions.
With 10.6 million cubic metres, the deliveries of all bunkers ?heavy fuel oil gas oil, diesel oil and lub oils to the maritime shipping sector ?remained at the same level as in 2014, according to data from port authorities.
The increase in the sales of gas oil and diesel came at the expense of the sales of fuel oil, which fell from 9.8 to 8.7 million m3.
"The port of Rotterdam Authority welcomes this development, since gas oil and diesel are significantly less polluting than fuel oil," a statement said, highlighting its commitment to cleaner shipping.
"It shows this by investing in Rotterdam as LNG (liquefied natural gas) hub and stimulating the transition from fuel oil to LNG as a fuel for shipping. The Port Authority expects that in 2017, the first sea-going vessel will be able to bunker LNG in Rotterdam from the water via a bunkering vessel."
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