Top Names Unite to Drive Forward LNG as a Marine Fuel
LONDON, July 15, 2016 /3BL Media/ - Carnival Corporation & plc, DNV·GL, ENGIE, ENN, GE, GTT, Lloyd’s Register, Mitsubishi Corporation, NYK Line, Port of Rotterdam, Qatargas, Shell, Tote, Inc. and Wartsila have announced a new cross-industry initiative called SEA\LNG, to accelerate the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel.
Explaining the coalition’s objective, Peter Keller, chairman of SEA\LNG and executive vice president of Tote Inc., said: “We recognise the need to work closely with key players in the value chain, including shipping companies, classification societies, ports, major LNG suppliers, downstream companies, infrastructure providers and OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) to ensure an understanding of the environmental and performance benefits of LNG as a marine transport fuel. SEA\LNG will help to address market barriers and transform the use of LNG as a marine fuel into a global reality”.
Over 90% of global trade moves by sea and this trade is expected to increase substantially over the coming years. In terms of tonne miles, shipping is the world’s cleanest form of transport. However, the volumes moved are so large that shipping is a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas (~3% of the total global), sulphur oxides (SOx, ~5-8% of the total) and nitrogen oxides (NOx, at least 15%) emissions.
The emissions reduction requirements which have come into force around the world to respond to this challenge are increasing demand for LNG as a shipping fuel. LNG offers significant environmental advantages over heavy fuel oil, the main fuel used in shipping today. LNG significantly reduces SOx, NOx and particulate emissions, and can also contribute to the reduction of GHG emissions. LNG is therefore able to offer a fuel solution compliant with both current and anticipated future regulations.
However, while LNG is a competitive fuel relative to current alternatives, LNG infrastructure is needed in ports around the world to enable quick, safe and cost effective bunkering. In parallel, there remains a price premium for LNG-fuelled vessels which can make investment decisions challenging. Furthermore, regulation is not yet globally consistent, which constrains incentives for investment in the sector. SEA\LNG aims to address and overcome these and other challenges.
Philip Olivier, CEO of ENGIE Global LNG, speaking at the launch event, 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”.
Tom Strang, senior vice president, Maritime Affairs, Carnival Corporation & plc said: “By working together proactively across the whole marine LNG value chain we can make the transition to a low emission marine sector a reality. We are proud to share this aim and to align ourselves with other innovators in this field”.
Leo Karistios, gas technology lead, Lloyd’s Register (LR) added: “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”.
ENDS
Notes to editors
SEA\LNG is a not for profit collaborative industry foundation serving the needs of its member organisations. SEA\LNG’s members include; Carnival Corporation & plc, DNV ·GL, ENGIE, ENN, GE, GTT, Lloyd’s Register, Mitsubishi Corporation, NYK Line, Port of Rotterdam, Qatargas, Shell Downstream, Tote Inc., and Wartsila (as of July 2016).
SEA\LNG is guided by a board which is led by Chairman Peter Keller, executive vice president, of Tote Inc. Each member organization commits mutually agreed human resources, data analysis and knowledge sharing in support of SEA\LNG initiatives and activities and financially contributes via a membership fee.
The SEA\LNG coalition was established by Xyntéo, an advisory body which works with global companies to identify and implement collaborative initiatives that enable businesses to grow in a new way, fit for the resource, climate and demographic realities of the 21st century.
For further information, please contact:
Hugo Le Breton
Senior Advisor, Xyntéo
32 Wigmore Street, London W1U 2RP, United Kingdom
M: +44 7470 167544
E: hlb@xynteo.com www.xynteo.com
Issued by Navigate PR (London).
Claire Sneddon
+44 (0)20 3326 8459
csneddon@navigatepr.com
