Becker Marine Systems and KOTUG Sign MOU

September 30th, 2015 Becker Marine Systems and KOTUG signed a Memorandum of Understanding to launch a LNG Hybrid Barge in the Port of Rotterdam with effect from June 2017.

The LNG Hybrid Barge, a floating energy plant, is designed to provide environmentally friendly power for ships in ports. The LNG Hybrid Barge will deliver clean energy to moored cruise ships and contributes to a cleaner environment. It is an alternative for producing electricity in the traditional way by either their generator sets or their main engines. During winter season the LNG Hybrid Barge will be able to deliver heat to factories or to the central city heating system in addition to electricity.

Becker Marine Systems (BMS) is the owner of the LNG Hybrid Barge and provides services to charter out the barge. The LNG Hybrid Barge concept is developed by LNG Hybrid, a division of Becker Marine systems. Dirk Lehmann, Managing Director of Becker Marine Systems said: “The LNG Hybrid Barge is the first flexible solution supplying clean LNG energy to cruise ships during summer season and providing the flexibility of generating electric energy and heat into a public grid system or industrial users during winter season. We see this advanced flexible solution as an opportunity for Rotterdam and other international ports.”

Primarily the LNG Hybrid Barge will support cruise ships moored in Rotterdam, traditionally key clients of KOTUG. KOTUG will move the LNG Hybrid Barge and will provide commercial, technical and operational management of the LNG Hybrid Barge. Ard-Jan Kooren, CEO of KOTUG stated: “As a leading towage company and with our strong focus on innovative technical and environmental solutions, we strive for reducing our environmental footprint and encouraging our suppliers, clients, business partners and stakeholders to reduce their environmental impact. We are proud to be working with innovative partners like Becker Marine Systems and we look forward to making together a significant step in supporting our clients in a greener, safer and more efficient operation.”

This new, innovative concept and unique cooperation has also drawn significant attention from key players in the LNG market, like Cruiseport Rotterdam, Dutch National LNG Platform and Shell. Arjan Stavast, Shell’s Downstream LNG Business Development Manager for Europe commented “We see the LNG Hybrid Barge as a unique solution for the maritime industry. We will follow these developments closely as we do believe that the delivery of electricity through LNG is possible for (cruise) ships, factories and cities, while not having to invest heavily in additional electricity infrastructure”.

“The LNG Hybrid Barge which KOTUG and Becker Marine Systems together are planning to introduce to Rotterdam will potentially reduce emissions even further. The cruise industry is known to work successfully towards a cleaner and healthier environment to which this LNG Hybrid Barge certainly substantially will contribute to. It will enable the cruise vessels to consume energy in an even cleaner and green way. We are delighted to learn about this initiative and are looking forward to welcome the LNG Hybrid Barge in Rotterdam” says Mai Elmar, Executive Director of Cruise Port Rotterdam.

Gerrit van Tongeren, Chairman of the Dutch National LNG Platform, states: “This initiative between KOTUG and Becker Marine Systems is very much welcomed and supported by the Dutch National LNG Platform, because it is another great and unique example of how (in their respective fields) leading maritime companies can work together in the entire LNG chain and together strive to get LNG introduced in the market and contribute to a cleaner and greener environment. We therefore follow and support this initiative and wish all parties good luck in achieving the objectives”.