In the initial phase the terminal will not serve cruise ships, which call at Old City Harbour—not Muuga—however Tallinn is taking this first step to be ready to supply different types of LNG vessels in all harbours in the future, according to Ingrid Berezin, business manager, Cruise and Ferry, Port of Tallinn.
A contract for constructing a small-scale LNG receiving and distributing terminal in the eastern part of Muuga Harbour is expected to be signed with Vopak EOS.
The exact schedule for the construction depends on the cooperation of the local government, Joelahtme municipality, which is hearing the project matter, Remo Holsmer, chairman, supervisory board, Port of Tallinn, said in the latest Cruise Europe newsletter.
Holsmer noted Muuga Harbour, which is navigable year-round, is the most suitable location for the LNG terminal in Estonia. 'The construction of the LNG terminal improves significantly Estonia’s position in the Baltic Sea region as only few harbours in the region offer possibilities for bunkering LNG,' he added.
In the first phase it is planned to build the LNG terminal with a maximum capacity of 4,000 cubic metres. The terminal itself will cover an area of about 8,500 square metres.
