• 25 Jan 2015

Containerships Ltd’s first LNG powered trucks in the UK are now being refuelled at BOC’s new liquefied natural gas (LNG) refuelling station in Teesport, Middlesbrough.

Opened recently by BOC, the UK’s leading industrial gases and medical gases business, the station is designed to serve BOC vehicles running on LNG and will also be available for third party access by arrangement. Containerships Ltd is trialling dual fuel technology as part of its proposal to create a sustainable logistics solution door to door. With support funding from Innovate UK (formerly the Technology Strategy Board), the company has invested in two dual fuel (LNG and diesel-powered) trucks, with an option to invest in more vehicles following initial successful trials. Containerships Ltd is the first third party to sign up to access the station to refuel for its LNG needs. The station incorporates the latest ‘zero loss’ refuelling technology, developed by BOC, a member of The Linde Group. This uses cryogenic cooling to ‘temperature-condition’ the fuel just prior to dispensing. The refuelling station will support BOC’s fleet of 10 dual fuel HGV vehicles transporting industrial gases from the BOC Middlesbrough plant to customers in the surrounding region. Containerships Ltd will initially refuel two heavy trucks operating out of the Teesport terminal in Middlesbrough. Dual fuel is an innovative technology that allows natural gas to be used in conjunction with diesel, reducing the total consumption of diesel and cutting CO2emissions. LNG typically accounts for up to 60 per cent of total fuel consumption for a dual-fuel vehicle. Diesel produces around 2.6 kg of CO2 for every litre burned, whereas LNG when used with diesel in a dual fuel vehicle typically reduces CO2 emissions between 10 and 14 per cent. Mark Lowe LNG Business Manager, BOC, said: “BOC is extremely proud to open our new LNG refuelling station in Middlesbrough and to offer Containerships Ltd access to this important, environmentally friendly alternative to diesel. Our investment in our new plant demonstrates BOC’s long-term commitment to play an active part in the transition to low-carbon transport and we look forward to working with Containerships Ltd in the future.” Andrew Frost, Managing Director, Containerships Ltd, said “We are delighted with the assistance and support that BOC have provided as we look to establish LNG as a clean alternative fuel to diesel within our heavy truck and shipping fleet. We are confident that LNG will be the fuel of the future for both trucking and shipping purposes and are delighted to join together with BOC at the forefront of LNG dual fuel truck development in the UK”.   Source: BOC