The main world cruise fleets have decided to fuel the new large ships with LNG (liquefied natural gas). In Sicily, Caronte&Tourist has publicly committed to two LNG-powered ferries, despite the fact that bunkering stations are not yet available. It is therefore crucial to investigate this and the other issues relating to the new alternative fuel to oil, LNG, as soon as possible, which has sustainability as its first objective. Reducing the environmental footprint in the Mediterranean Sea, where more than 17% of world maritime traffic circulates, is the new requirement, and LNG, a low-emission fuel, eliminates fine particles and drastically reduces sulfur and nitrogen oxides, reducing by 15% CO2 emissions.
The Italy natural gas hub workshop, LNG opportunity for the Mediterranean is scheduled for Friday 13 May 2016 at the Navy Officers' Club in Augusta (SR). Institutions, operators and industry experts will discuss international and national commitments and strategies to reduce the environmental impact of vessel traffic on the marine and coastal environment, with particular reference to the Strait of Sicily. Even the Navy, which will participate in the event, foresees the use of liquefied natural gas in the "Green Fleet" programme.
For our country and Sicily in particular, this is a great opportunity to renew its industrial and energy park by adopting technologies with minimal environmental impact.
The workshop is divided into two thematic sessions: the first dedicated to maritime traffic and related environmental sustainability, the second to the infrastructures needed to make Italy the Euro-Mediterranean hub of natural gas and LNG. In addition to specific reports, the program includes two round tables with representatives of the most important interested companies with whom objectives, strategies and cutting-edge projects will be discussed.
The Augusta event was made possible thanks to the sponsorship of Caronte & Tourist Spa, Marine Engineering Services Srl, Polargas Srl and Wärtsilä Italia Spa. Workshop GNL are in-depth meetings organized in collaboration with WEC Italia by Conferenz aGNL, an independent initiative which has the objective of promoting the new industrial chain of liquid methane gas for sea transport, heavy land transport and for industrial and civil uses in Italy and in the Mediterranean.
Participation in the workshop is free upon compulsory online registration: attention, as it is a military headquarters, it is not possible to access to non-registered persons.
