Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Bunkering by Vessel in the Great Lakes: An Analysis of Regulatory and Operational Issues

Adoption of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel in the Great Lakes has strong potential due to an abundant supply of domestic natural gas and the implementation of the International Maritime Organization’s Emission Control Areas in United States waters. LNG studies focusing on its use as a marine fuel to date have focused on shore to ship transfers either from a tank truck or fixed facility. The use of a bunker vessel to bring LNG to a vessel in need of fuel and while undergoing cargo operations, would seem to be a very attractive option that could save both time and money by eliminating dedicated fuel stops. This study focuses on this potential in the port of Two Harbors, Minnesota and includes an assessment of local infrastructure needs and a gap analysis of applicable city, state and federal regulations in an attempt to answer the following questions. Can the existing regulatory and physical infrastructure in the port of Two Harbors support an LNG bunkering operation? What would a potential LNG bunkering operation look like and what regulatory requirements are necessary to enable a bunker vessel to supply LNG fuel on the Great Lakes? Can these results be transferable to other waterways outside of the Great Lakes, such as the Western Rivers or coastal areas?