WATCH: Port Canaveral Becomes America’s First Liquefied Natural Gas Cruise Port

By  //  February 25, 2021

LNG is the cleanest burning hydrocarbon that meets global regulations

ABOVE VIDEO: Officials announced on Thursday that Port Canaveral has become America’s first Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Cruise Port. (Port Canaveral Video)

BREVARD COUNTY • PORT CANAVERAL, FLORIDA – Officials announced on Thursday that Port Canaveral has become America’s first Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Cruise Port.

Port Canaveral is at the center point for the use of LNG as an aerospace and marine fuel.

The space industry has plans to power launch vehicles with LNG for space missions due to its high energy content and cryogenic properties.

With that industry’s future launch tempo expected to increase, fuel sources are needed nearby to support efficient refueling at launch sites. And, in the maritime industry, 80 new cruise ships are on order, of which 26 will operate on LNG fuel.

As the world’s second busiest cruise port, Port Canaveral has met the LNG fueling needs of their cruise partners, in addition to the space industry.

For more than a year, the Port has been working with the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, American Bureau of Shipping, Seaport Canaveral (fuel terminal operator at Port Canaveral), our cruise partners, and Space Florida to develop operational, regulatory and technical frameworks to ensure safe handling and storing of LNG at Port Canaveral.

Throughout the planning process, the Port’s objective has been to ensure all processes, procedures and practices are compliant with local and state fire safety regulations and codes.

The Canaveral Port Authority has been working closely with Canaveral Fire and Rescue to ensure the Port would be ready for LNG fueling at the Port.

In fact, the Port has invested in firefighter training with many CFR department personnel having already completed advanced training.

What is LNG?
LNG is natural gas — the same product used for heating, cooling, cooking and hot water in homes, schools, hospitals and businesses.
LNG is the cleanest burning hydrocarbon that meets global regulations, effective January 2020, to reduce environmentally harmful emissions from ships in ports.
LNG greatly reduces harmful pollutants; is the most environmentally-friendly fuel available, and provides an immediate environmental benefit. Marine engines powered by LNG virtually eliminate harmful emissions of sulfur oxides (SOx) and reduce nitrogen oxides (NOx) up to 85%.
LNG sourced in the U.S. eliminates dependence on alternative imported fuels.

Why LNG at Port Canaveral?
A future without polluting emissions in our Port aligns with our goal of investing in green technology and environmental sustainability programs.
LNG is the fuel of the future for the growing commercial space and cruise industries. With new global emissions standards for ships taking effect in January 2020, our Port must invest in developing our capabilities, partnerships and infrastructure to support its use.

How will LNG work at the Port?
Port Canaveral will employ widely-used and proven best practices to support the safe fueling of clean energies like LNG. Ships powered by LNG will be refueled using a ship-to-ship “bunkering” process that’s regulated by the U.S. Coast Guard. This is a widely accepted fuel transfer process that’s in use today for supplying petroleum products to vessels.

What’s next?
The Port Authority is in the second phase of planning for LNG fueling capabilities in the port. We have been working in collaboration with Canaveral Fire Rescue, our cruise partners and federal and state regulatory agencies to ensure LNG can be safely received, dispensed and stored at the Port, just as the Port has done for decades with fuel operators supplying petroleum products to ships in our Port. The Port is working to ensure fuel operators and receivers properly develop LNG procedures that comply with all federal, state, and local regulations, and build capabilities as needed to safeguard the Port and promote this industry initiative.

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