Reuters is reporting that India is set to trial LNG as fuel for vessels in the fishing industry.
The Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council (K-DISC) think tank has expressed interest in a pilot project to examine the merits of using LNG as fuel for a fishing boat. The project will involve the retrofitting of a current fishing boat’s diesel engine system, in order to enable it to operate using a dual-fuel (LNG and diesel) system.
High costs and a lack of bunkering infrastructure has previously meant that LNG has not been widely used in the fishing industry. This new interest in LNG as fuel, from a traditionally diesel-fuelling industry, has been motivated by the upcoming International Maritime Organisation (IMO) legislation limiting fuel sulfur content beyond 2020.