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The GAINN4SHIP INNOVATION project, coordinated by Fundacion Valenciaport and co-financed by the European Commission through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) programme, has been selected for the 2016 GENERA Innovation Gallery at the Energy and Environment International Trade Fair, due to be held in Madrid from 15-17 June, 2016.

The proposed initiative consists of retrofitting a high-speed ro-pax vessel, the Bencomo Express, so that it can be powered by both diesel and liquefied natural gas (LNG). The ship operates in the Canary Islands, an archipelago that is particularly environmentally vulnerable.

The retrofitting of the Bencomo Express would be the world's first conversion to LNG fuel of a high-speed ro-pax vessel that can transport both passengers and goods.

The technology proposed for retrofitting the Bencomo Express would convert its four high power 4-stroke engines to dual-fuel without the need to replace the existing engines with new ones.

According to Fundacion Valenciaport, Fred. Olsen, S.A. intends to retrofit not just the Bencomo Express, but also convert its entire fleet to dual-fuel in the short-to-medium term.

"This revolutionary model of inter-island transport based on the use of LNG as a marine fuel is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 20% and sulphur emissions by 80%. In addition, it will generate an initial demand for LNG as a marine fuel in Spanish ports, which would represent a first step towards making Spain a strategic hub for supplying this type of fuel through its ports. Lastly, the project will contribute to the development of the Spanish shipping sector and LNG-related industry by creating jobs for highly-qualified workers," Fundación Valenciaport said.

The participating partners in GAINN4SHIP INNOVATION are Valenciaport Foundation as coordinator, the Port Authority of Valencia, Fred Olsen, The International Center for Numerical Methods in Engineering (CIMNE) and Spain's Ministry of Development.

GAINN4MOS

GAINN4MOS is the second GAINN project initiative that is coordinated by Fundacion Valenciaport and co-financed by the European Commission through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) programme. GAINN4MOS was set up to improve the Motorways of the Sea network in six Member States (Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Portugal and Slovenia) by carrying out engineering studies on ship retrofitting and/or construction, port LNG infrastructure, bunkering stations and pilot projects.

GAINN4MOS includes 14 detailed engineering studies on LNG infrastructure and bunkering stations, retrofitting and construction of vessels and 11 prototypes (4 LNG retrofitted prototype vessels and 7 LNG bunkering stations at core ports).

Its specific objectives include:

- To provide the core ports of Koper, La Spezia, Venezia, Fos-Marseille and Nantes - Saint Nazaire, with initial pilot infrastructures in the cases of Koper and Italian ports and with fully operational LNG break-bulking stations in Fos-Marseille and Nantes-St Nazaire required to comply with Directive 2014/94/EU on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure.

- To generate an initial demand for the Italian LNG bunkering infrastructures with the retrofitting/newbuilding of one pax or ro-pax vessel included in this project.

- To foster greener, safer and sustainable maritime transport by reducing operational costs associated with fuel consumption on average by 30% with the retrofitting/newbuilding of 4 prototype vessels included in this proposal.

- To reduce CO2 emissions by 20% (on average) and sulphur emissions by 80% (on average) with the retrofitting/newbuilding of 4 prototype vessels included in this proposal.

- To contribute to the development of the European Union LNG and maritime industry and shipyards: at least 200 employees in 4 European shipyards and 30 additional employees in sea carriers will be working in the retrofitting/newbuilding of 4 prototype vessels and in the vessels themselves.

- To contribute to the development of the European Union LNG industry at ports: at least 35 employees will be working directly in 3 pilots and 2 fully operational LNG infrastructures or bunkering stations in core ports included in the GAINN4MOS Action.

- To share results obtained with at least 30 EU ports and 20 sea carriers not participating directly in this proposal via 8 large scale communication events and by their participation in the Stakeholders Interest Group.