HOEGH ESPERANZA

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Police to escort LNG tanker to Wilhelmshaven

Stricter security rules will apply before and during the opening of the LNG terminal in Wilhelmshaven at the weekend of Dec 17/18, 2022. The police will escort the "Höegh Esperanza", loaded with LNG. On Dec 15, the water police will receive the ship at the so-called 12-mile limit and bring it to the pier. Shoreside, additional forces are to ensure the safety of the "Höegh Esperanza" and the terminal. In the vicinity of the Voslapper Groden handling facility of the terminal operator Uniper, several roads will be closed from Dec 14 to 17- especially in the Baederst. area. In addition, a drone flight ban applies up to and including Dec 17. The authorities fear disruptive actions by climate activists. The security measures will only be lifted after the opening ceremony of the LNG terminal on Dec 17. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) and Lower Saxony's Prime Minister Stephan Weil (SPD) have announced that they will attend the ceremony. On Dec 22, gas should flow from the terminal into the German grid for the first time. The "Höegh Esperanza" is used as a floating tank and for evaporating the liquid natural gas delivered: While on board, the LNG is converted into gas and pumped ashore. From mid-January, further tankers are to deliver LNG to Wilhelmshaven.

German Environmental Aid (DUH) fears that storage ship falls behind environmental standards

The German Environmental Aid (DUH), demands an immediate environmental impact assessment for the LNG terminal Wilhemshaven due to the threat of a creeping chemical accident. According to the application documents, Uniper would like to discharge ten times as much biocide into the North Sea with its LNG terminal ship as the Australian authorities previously considered acceptable at a comparable location. The "Höegh Esperanza", which the Federal Ministry of Economics has chartered for the liquid gas terminal, failed an environmental assessment in Australia in 2021. According to the Australian authorities, the ship was falling behind international environmental standards. The DUH accused the responsible ministry of having "cleared the way for the introduction of biocides in the immediate vicinity of the Wadden Sea and Jade through several legislative amendments". The DUH was therefore calling for an amendment to the LNG Acceleration Act and the Water Resources Act. Lower Saxony's Environment Minister assertedthat strict environmental standards will be observed during the construction of the LNG terminal in Wilhelmshaven. This will also be ensured through various expert opinions.

Grounding on Rio de la Plata

The 'Hoegh Esperanza' ran aground with a cargo of LNG on the Rio de la Plata at kilometer 143,90 in the Punta Indio Canal 1000 meters off the buoy BRL-143 while approaching Buenos Aires on July 29, 2021, at 6 p.m. en route from Corpus Christi. The first attempt to refloat the ship from the sandy.muddy boddom which was stuck outside the fairway with a tug failed. Also the 'GC-75 Bahia Blanca' of the Prefectura Naval Argentina and the 'GC-73 Cabo Corrientes' attended. On July 30 at 7.30 p.m. the tug 'Madrugador' refloated the ship with the high tide. It then proceeded with own power and escorted by the Coast Guard cutters to the La Plata anchorage and on July 31 at 6.25 a.m. moored in pos. 34° 43.34' N 057° 53.04' W for inspections before unloading the cargo.