THE contract for Scotland’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering facility at Ardrossan Harbour has been awarded.

Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) has given the contract to KC LNG, Kosan Crisplant’s division under MAKEEN Energy, to design and install the facilities at Ardrossan and Uig – the first such facilities in the country.

When completed, they will provide a source of LNG fuelling for two dual fuel ferries – including the MV Glen Sannox which will serve the Ardrossan to Brodick route and

Hull 802 (Uig to Tarbert route).

Both the ferries are currently under construction and have faced a multitude of problems and delays, leading to a

parliamentary inquiry.

Each installation will be a fully automated and remote-monitored facility with a 150 m3 LNG holding tank capability.

The facilities will be operated by CalMac on behalf of CMAL and are expected to be ready for operation in 2022 as part of major upgrade works at Ardrossan and Uig harbours.

The contract includes a five-year maintenance agreement with annual service, call-out support remote monitoring and diagnostics to track performance and operation of the facilities.

Andy Crossan, senior technical manager and projects director at CMAL, said: “We were keen to identify a complete solution with design, delivery and service, and Kosan Crisplant put together a customised package that will deliver that.

“This marks an important milestone in the use of LNG fuel in Scotland’s maritime transport.”

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