Dwindling LNG tankers, impeded from discharging their cargo in the congested harbor, disrupting supply. - Discharge of Liquefied Natural Gas vessels at their designated locations
The LNG tanker "Iberica Knutsen" has been unloaded at its destination port Mukran, three days after running aground off Rügen. The vessel, owned by Knutsen OAS Shipping and built in 2006, was en route to Mukran harbor with an inbound cargo of LNG from Cheniere’s Sabine Pass facility in Louisiana.
The incident occurred on May 22, 2025, around 5:20 local time. The "Iberica Knutsen" was reportedly not damaged in the accident. On Friday, it was inspected by a surveyor, and divers also examined the hull.
The Coast Guard is investigating the incident, with the captain of the ship under investigation. The vessel, with a capacity of 138,000 cbm, was carrying a full load of LNG from the U.S. at the time of grounding.
Tugboats managed to pull the tanker free within an hour, and it was briefly anchored off Sassnitz before sailing to Mukran harbor and arriving on Saturday morning. The regasification ship "Neptune" is anchored in the harbor, where the liquefied natural gas is returned to its gaseous state and then fed into the long-distance gas network.
Despite the grounding, the "Iberica Knutsen" delivered its LNG cargo to the Mukran FSRU-based import facility on Saturday, May 25, 2025, and left the terminal on Sunday evening. Deutsche ReGas, the operator of the terminal, plans to reinstall a second FSRU at the facility to enhance capacity. All available 2025 slots at the FSRU-based LNG terminal in Mukran have been allocated.
No one was injured, and there was no reported environmental damage caused by the incident. The Sassnitz Waterways Police are currently investigating the cause of the incident. Environmental and activist groups have criticized Germany’s reliance on LNG imports following the incident, highlighting the operational risks associated with LNG imports but not disrupting the critical supply chain for German energy needs.
In light of the successful delivery of LNG cargo from the "Iberica Knutsen" despite the grounding incident, it is crucial for the community policy to consider measures for vocational training in the shipping industry, particularly for responding to such incidents. Moreover, to ensure the financial sustainability and safety of such operations, it is essential to invest in advanced training programs for transportation and automotive sectors as well.
