“Five, four, three, two, one! Release the gas!” At 11:58 am on 14th September, the command was given. With this, 18 tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) were safely transported through a pipeline and stored in the tanks of a dual-fuel cargo ship. This event marked the official completion and operation of the Fudi Fujiang LNG Fuelling Station at Sanjiang Port.
The Fudi Fujiang LNG Fuelling Station is situated in Linjiang Township, Huarong District, on the banks of the Yangtze River, within Sanjiang Port, the core area of Wuhan New Port on the south bank of the Yangtze River. This project is an investment by China Gas Hubei Fudi Fujiang Energy Technology Co., Ltd., amounting to RMB 200 million. It is among the initial 29 key port construction projects authorised by the provincial government and serves as the first offshore gas oil bunkering station in Hubei Province. The project encompasses two 5,000-ton LNG fuel berths, two LNG bunkering vessels, and a designed annual capacity of 38,200 tons. At present, one 5,000-ton LNG fuel berth has been completed, alongside one LNG bunkering vessel and a 500 m3 LNG storage tank. Additionally, a 530 m3 diesel oil storage tank is also present.
It is known that once the LNG Bunkering Wharf is operational, it will significantly reduce ship emissions on the Yangtze River, strengthen pollution prevention and control capacity for ships and ports, encourage energy-saving and emission reduction in the water transport sector, and contribute to the overall high-quality development of shipping on the Yangtze River.