EU policy with regard to environmental friendly transport focuses on modal shifts towards transport over water and the reduction of greenhouse gases in order to reach the goals set in Kyoto. The tendency is to develop new ways of transportation, focusing on strongly reduced emissions of greenhouse gases per kg of transported cargo. This can be accomplished in three ways: (i) optimising cargo space; (ii) reducing emissions of existing engines by making them run more efficiently, or (iii) creating new engine types with new types of fuels and hence reduce emissions. Most short and medium-sized cargo vessels use diesel or heavy oil as fuel. The technique of these combustion engines has been in use for decades and has not changed much through time. In optimising transportation and ships, the current systems can be improved, but this will not lead to very spectacular improvements in general, particularly with regard to the emission of greenhouse gases as the current techniques have reached their limit. Bijlsma received a request to develop a small carrier of liquid natural gas (LNG) suitable for LNG engines. The environmental advantages of LNG are obvious: use of LNG would lead to a significant reduction in the emissions of CO2 and NOx; the price of LNG is considerably lower than diesel or heavy oil and, the LNG engine is also much more comfortable: There is no unpleasant smell, the engine makes little sound and causes less vibration. The Commission considers LNG as a potential alternative for automotive fuel, along with hydrogen and biofuels (COM(2001)547 final). LNG engines already exist in industry (LNG turbines) and land transport with a minimum range (e.g. city buses). However, LNG-engines are not common on ships due to the specific safety measures on board, and LNG is not widely available. Bijlsma studied the possibility for a ship with LNG propulsion and decided to build the ship and to demonstrate the operability of ship and engine. Organisations in Norway and Sweden showed particular interest in this project.