05SEP2019 - News - GSD says Govt put 'commercial expedience over safety' with LNG bunkering operation

The GSD has accused the Gibraltar Government of putting commercial gain over safety by allowing an LNG bunkering operation in the bay, even though the company delivering the fuel did not have a licence in Gibraltar.
The issue of the licence was revealed by the Minister for the Port, Gilbert Licudi, during an interview with GBC in which said that the operation was "considered to be good for Gibraltar".
For the GSD, that decision signals the government's willingness to allow "commercial expedience to trump safety and the law".
The decision, the Opposition said, amounted to "a step toward Government without regard for the rule of law."
The LNG operation was conducted by Dutch company Titan LNG, which delivered over 3,000 tonnes of fuel in BGTW to the world's largest crane vessel, Sleipnir.
Titan LNG is one of the world's leading LNG suppliers, with over two decades of experience in the sector.
The backdrop to the operation is a growing focus in the shipping industry on LNG as a greener alternative to traditional fossil fuels, and a race among key bunkering ports around the globe to ensure they are able to meet demand when necessary.