In his summary of 2017 for SGMF general manager Mark Bell said he had been asked many times recently when the tipping point for gas-fuelled ships would be. However, he believes that it will not be a specific point in time, rather a longer period.
“What I do think there will have been is an entire year – and that ‘tipping year’ is surely going to be 2018,” Bell forecast.
“We have witnessed such significant increase in the number of projects and infrastructure recently and this is undoubtedly something we can all further look forward to as the greater maritime industry begins to embrace our message and realise the tremendous benefits of gas-fuelled shipping.”
Last year saw thee landmark decision by CMA CGM to make its 22,000 teu capacity containership newbuilds ordered in China LNG-powered, and it has also signed an agreement with Total to supply the fuel. Tanker owners AET and Sovcomflot also committed to LNG powered aframax tankers.
According to SGMF in 2017 there were six vessels supplying LNG as a marine fuel and 119 LNG-fuelled ships in operation.
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