---

Norway's Gasnor and Brunsbüttel Port are planning to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunker station at Brunsbüttel, Germany. DNV has been contracted to conduct the risk studies of the project, which will be the basis for the authorities’ approval of the project.

Gasnor has contracted DNV to conduct the risk studies that will be the basis for the authorities’ approval of the project. Important elements in the risk analysis are a safety screening of the site and a safety analysis for the chosen location in terms of quantitative risk analysis, emergency planning and nautical risk analysis.

In addition, DNV will be supporting the communication process with approval authority LLUR (Landesamt für Landwirtschaft, Umwelt und ländliche Räume / agency for agriculture, environment and rural areas).

Commenting on the reason for choosing DNV, Gasnor's Leiv Arne Marhaug said: "We wanted DNV to do these risk studies as they have an impressive track record with regards to several LNG aspects."

“With this project, Gasnor and Brunsbüttel Ports GmbH are clearly taking a crucial step in the development of LNG bunkering infrastructure in this geographical area“, said Mohamed Houari, Head of Solutions, Central Europe of DNV.

"In the context of generally increasing demands in environmentally friendly shipping, eco-friendly fuel is a key aspect. LNG is an environmentally-friendly energy source for ships, and it has already been in use for quite some years. The planned LNG bunker station will provide a safe, reliable and cost-effective way for fuelling sea vessels and barges with LNG," DNV said.

“We are pleased to work with Gasnor and Brunsbüttel Ports GmbH – a strong team that safely and responsibly will contribute to the development of a LNG infrastructure in North Germany,” said DNV’s Jan Tellkamp from DNV Germany.

Brunsbüttel Ports GmbH is owner and operator of three ports at Brunsbüttel: Elbehafen, Oilport and the port of Ostermoor. Elbehafen is a multi-purpose port with water draft of 14.40 metres, providing good conditions for an LNG bunker station for shipping to and from Hamburg as well as for traffic on the Kiel Canal. In 2010 31,933 ships used the Kiel Canal and 9,843 ships called at the port of Hamburg.

"With this project we move forward within the demands of 'Green Ports'," said Frank Schnabel, managing director of Brunsbüttel Ports GmbH.

Gasnor is a company that specializes in the distribution and sale of natural gas in Norway. The company supplies customers with natural gas via pipeline network, in the form of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and LNG.

Image: Kiel Canal