A new European Union regulatory framework adopted this week will make it a requirement for member states to have a certain level of infrastructure to accommodate the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel.

The new rules are part of a wider clean fuel strategy that focuses on bringing alternative fuels to the entire European transport sector, which also includes inland vehicles.

"Alternative fuels are key to improving the security of energy supply, reducing the impact of transport on the environment and boosting EU competitiveness," said European Commission Vice-President and Commissioner for Transport Siim Kallas.

The directives call for LNG refuelling stations to be built by 2025 across core Trans-European Networks for Transport (TEN-T), ideally every 400 km.

A minimum coverage will be set in place to ensure that ships have access to LNG in main maritime and inland ports.

The EU said that ensuring the wide availability of LNG would make meeting environmental and emission targets more realistic, especially as new regulations on sulfur content in marine fuel come into play next year.

"With these new rules, the EU provides long-awaited legal certainty for companies to start investing, and the possibility for economies of scale. EU Member States requested flexibility in deploying the infrastructure. It is now up to them to develop the right national policy frameworks," said Kallas.

Member States will have to set and make public their national policy frameworks by the end of 2016.

Late last year TEN-T also provided €105 million ($138 million) under the same program for seven liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering project.

"Alternative fuels are key to improving the security of energy supply
Siim Kallas, Vice-President, European Commission"