Editorial comment

I was recently invited to attend the LNG Bunkering and Future Fuels Summit in Amsterdam from 14 – 16 May.

There were a lot of questions being asked in the presentations and panels about what the ‘primary’ future fuel will be; an answer that was often given is collaboration. Having said that, all the options available – ammonia, hydrogen, methanol, biofuels, and, of course, LNG – will each have a role to play both in the transition and the longer-term future of marine fuels.

Whilst at the event, I had the opportunity to talk to Denis Bonhomme, Global Sales and Business Development Director at TotalEnergies Marine Fuels, about the role of LNG as a marine fuel, with a specific focus on bunkering.

When asked about some of the factors that might influence an increasing demand for LNG bunkering, Denis responded with a list of benefits for using LNG as a a marine fuel. To start, he mentioned price. Gas prices are more affordable today, with bunker fuel cheaper than other options currently on the market. Another point was that it is a cleaner fuel, completely eliminating NO_X and SO_X emissions, and reducing carbon dioxide content by 15 –23%. It also satisfies existing regulations and IMO guidelines, which have gotten stricter. Safety is also a record with the LNG industry, having so far achieved a pristine safety record.

Denis emphasised that LNG is currently a cleaner alternative fuel, despite not being completely ‘green’; at least, not yet. The next step is bio-LNG (which can easily be accommodated in current and future LNG dual-fuel ships), followed by e-LNG. ABB’s article in this issue focuses on the benefits of electrifying gas turbines to accelerate the decarbonisation of the oil and gas industry, and provides an insight into what the future may hold for e-LNG.

In addition, there is now also more infrastructure to help aid with this. Denis mentioned there are now 50 LNG bunkering vessels in operation, with bunkering infrastructure to support LNG as a marine fuel available to vessels in around 96 ports.¹

Of course, as with everything, there will be challenges to overcome. Although prices are better today, Denis explained that LNG is still subject to geopolitical tension. Any changes to countries which play an important part in the production or distribution of LNG could potentially disrupt the whole value chain. Another factor to consider is the supply-demand balance that is being reflected in the available infrastructure. LNG as a fuel is becoming an increasing-attractive option for shipowners, with Martin Wold, Principal Consultant at DNV, projecting an extra 250 LNG-fuelled vessels to come into operation in the next 12 months (in addition to the 1044 confirmed existing vessels) in his presentation ‘FUELBOSS – Building and Scaling a Global Industry Platform for LNG Bunkering of Ships.’ However, Martin went on to say that this would be met by just 7 more bunker vessels; an unbalanced ratio to say the least. This potential lack of infrastructure to meet the growing needs of LNG bunkering could prove an obstacle in the reality of realising this path to decarbonisation. Nevertheless, the future of LNG as a marine fuel looks positive.

TotalEnergies Marine Fuels has been a pioneer of LNG bunkering in Europe and is now expanding its bunkering network – adding Singapore to its operations, negotiating a hub on the US West Coast, and through TotalEnergies’ investment in the first LNG bunkering hub in the Middle East. This makes the company a major player in this growing market, as well as an expert partner in the new techniques, processes and standards involved in the new industry.

The June issue includes a range of articles on some other ways the LNG industry is trying to reduce its emissions. In addition, SEA-LNG’s article looks at how to understand and bridge the gap between the current perceptions of fuel solutions against the reality of their efficacy and potential, while NRG Marine’s article considers how ultrasonics as a method of biofouling prevention has enabled LNG carriers to reduce their fuel consumption and thus greenhouse gas emissions.

1. ‘Bunkering’, SEA-LNG, https://sea-lng.org/why-lng/bunkering/