T
he main advantage of LNG as a marine fuel is that it is clean and
provides a major reduction in emissions. However, moves to
adopt the fuel are slower than predicted. Two things are holding
back LNG fuel adoption – money and deliverability.
Classification can not do much about the money issue. Low global
oil prices have currently restricted any purely economic business case
for LNG fuel, and if oil prices fall further and stay low, then it will be
tough for long haul ship operators to make a case for using LNG.
Nevertheless, there is still a good case for burning LNG as fuel when
operating in Emission Control Areas (ECAs). Passenger vessel operators
also have a strong motive for being clean and environmentally friendly,
so a move to LNG as fuel is attractive to them.
Deliverability
Deliverability is an issue that classification societies, regulators, gas
supply companies, ports and ship owners are working to overcome.
Before a quicker and wider uptake of LNG as fuel is seen, even in ECAs,
Getting ready to
Martial Claudepierre, Bureau Veritas,
France,
explains why a stable and
mature LNG bunker chain is required to
aid the move towards LNG as fuel.
BUNKER
