Dutch Gate LNG terminal performs first transshipment

Dutch Gate LNG terminal in the Port of Rotterdam said it had performed its first LNG transhipment on April 5. This service ensures cargo transshipment directly between two LNG tankers without chilled gas passing through one of Gate’s three 180,000 cbm tanks. Gate, a subsidiary of Gasunie and Vopak, said in a statement on Thursday that LNG was transferred between the Arctic Discoverer and the Express, both scheduled for DONG Energy of Denmark. After modification of its installation last year, Gate started offering transshipment services in September 2015. A transshipment provides the advantages of a higher flow rate and less boil-off production compared to a traditional load from the tanks.

Gate is Europe’s youngest large land based terminal.  In 2015 Gate was the “biggest reloading terminal” worldwide. It is also the sole terminal where large reloads, small reloads, truckloads and transshipment happen on a routine basis, Gate said in the statement. Gate said it offers access to Europe’s most liquid gas hub TTF and to Europe’s largest bunker location in the port of Rotterdam and is located close to the Baltic small scale LNG market.

“Gate aims to be a hub for the LNG fuel market. Therefore it is investing in a dedicated third jetty (planned for summer 2016) and a second truckloading (planned for Q1 2017). These new services will also increase the attractiveness of the capacity on offer (0.9 BCM p.a. and an additional 4 BCM p.a. with a 4th tank).”

In the first quarter of this year, 258 trucks were loaded and 4 of the 7  vessels calling at Gate were small reloads. “Since start-up in 2011 the activity has continuously increased at Gate. Together with the construction of a LNG Break Bulk and increased use of the truck loading facility Gate considers this as encouraging steps in its ambition to become an important LNG hub for North West Europe,” the statement added.