Methane abatement alliance signs up new members

Led by Safetytech Accelerator, a not-for-profit Lloyd’s Register and Lloyd’s Register Foundation initiative, MAAMI’s new members are Capital Gas, Celsius Tankers, CoolCo, Global Meridian Holdings, Mitsui OSK Lines, TMS Cardiff Gas, and United Overseas Management.

They join existing members Carnival Corporation & Plc, Lloyd’s Register, Knutsen Group, Maran Gas Maritime, Mediterranean Shipping Company, Seaspan Corporation, and Shell. The doubling of membership demonstrates the industry’s determination to address the methane emissions challenge.   

MAAMI was established in September 2022 as a cross-sectoral alliance to support technologies to measure and manage methane emissions. While many believe LNG, as a clean hydrocarbon, offers major scope as a transition fuel during shipping’s decarbonisation journey, methane slip in engines and methane emissions in cargo management are major concerns.

LNG as a marine fuel cuts substantially emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide and particulate matter, but these benefits are partially offset by unburnt methane emissions. As a greenhouse gas, methane is many times more dangerous than carbon dioxide.

In its short life so far, MAAMI has already mapped the LNG supply chain from well to ship, identifying which measurements are needed. It has also identified possible technologies to monitor and manage methane on board ships.

Related:Shell, MSC, and LR among backers of initiative to tackle methane slip

Lloyd’s Register’s Global Gas Segment Director, Panos Mitrou, who chairs MAAMI, commented: “The doubling of MAMII’s membership in the six months since its launch is a sign of the maritime industry’s commitment to addressing methane emissions. It also indicates the important role of technology in measuring and managing methane emissions activity. As the chairman of the MAMII initiative, I am delighted that so many significant shipping leaders have joined the ranks.”

One of the alliance’s shipowner members, Miltos Zisis, Managing Director of Capital Gas Ship Management, said: “We are excited to pioneer together with Lloyd’s Register and our peers in the MAMII project. Our group has invested heavily in reducing the environmental footprint of our fleet with specific focus in the reduction of methane emissions. Our participation in this project underlines our commitment to supporting important industry initiatives. We firmly believe that LNG will continue to be a major part of the energy mix and reducing the environmental impact of the value chain is one of the key challenges that we are facing.”

Related:Low loads double methane slip on LNG carrier voyage