Update: Partners have their say on new LNG marine fuel coalition

Wärtsilä recently announced that it has formed a coalition alongside a number of other marine industry players to help speed up the use of LNG as marine fuel. The coalition, or SEA/LNG, will try to help break down the various barriers to the development of the fuel on a global scale.

The coalition consists of: Carnival Corp.; DNV GL; ENGIE; ENN; GE; GTT; Lloyd’s Register; Mitsubishi Corp.; NYK Line; Port of Rotterdam; Qatargas; Shell; TOTE Inc.; and Wärtsilä.

Peter Keller, the Chairman of SEA/LNG and Executive Vice President of TOTE, commented: “We recognise the need to work closely with key players across the value chain, including shipping companies, classification societies, ports, major LNG suppliers, downstream companies, infrastructure providers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to ensure an understanding of the environmental and performance benefits of LNG as a marine transport fuel. SEA\LN G aims to address market barriers and help transform the use of LNG as a marine fuel into a global reality."

The CEO of ENGIE Global LNG, Philip Olivier, added: “Everybody is calling for alternatives to reduce environmental impacts. That’s why we have joined forces to actively promote LNG as a key fuel in maritime transport. LNG has the potential to take a 10% market share of global bunker demand by 2030. ENGIE will contribute to achieving this target.”

The Senior Vice President, Maritime Affairs, Carnival Corp., Tom Strang, said: “By working together proactively across the whole marine LNG value chain we can make the transition to a lower emission marine sector a reality. We are proud to share this aim and to align ourselves with other innovators in this field.”

Shell’s General Manager Downstream LNG, Lauran Wetemans, added: “This new cross-industry initiative is good news […] To make the transition to LNG as a fuel happen it needs close collaboration with key players across the full value chain. SEA/LNG aims to promote the benefits and potential of LNG fuel, and create a level playing field for LNG with other fuels. It will complement the work being done by other organisations like the Society for Gas as a Marine Fuel”.

Region Manager West Europe & Africa at DNV GL, Tjerk-Johan de Vries, said: “The ground work has been laid for LNG to thrive, but we need a cross-industry approach to realize the full potential of LNG fuelled shipping. Having been at the forefront of LNG-fuelled shipping since its beginning, DNV GL is proud to work with innovative partners to help LNG take its place as a key fuel for the future.”

Leo Karistios, Gas Technology Lead, Lloyd’s Register, said: “LNG-fuelled shipping has mainly been for the visionaries and, until now, concentrated in specialist ship sectors – short sea shipping and ferries, mainly sailing between two fixed ports. We want to help drive the expansion of LNG as a marine fuel of choice, with not just more short sea and local ships burning gas, but also the deep sea trades.”

Edited from press release by David Rowlands

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/small-scale-lng/13072016/update-partners-have-their-say-on-new-lng-marine-fuel-coalition-2745/