The economics of retrofitting ships to burn LNG could be a dampener to the uptake of LNG bunkering, considering the costs and many prerequisites that operators need to meet, according to shipbrokers Poten & Partners.
The move from burning high-sulphur bunker fuel to the use of clean LNG as fuel will be a “gamechanger” for the global shipping industry, said Angus Campbell, managing director of Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement UK (BSM).
The energy markets including the LNG sector are going through difficult times and there is much uncertainty, even if the long-term future is a good one, was the message from senior executives speaking at Gastech 2015 Singapore.
The energy markets may be in the doldrums, but leading industry officials remained upbeat about the outlook for LNG at the opening day of Gastech 2015 in Singapore.
Bureau Veritas (BV) has published requirements for a new LNG bunkering notation, for small tankers capable of ship-to-ship transfer of LNG for fuel.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) is inviting interested companies to tap on a SGD12m ($8.4m) fund for the building of LNG-fuelled vessels, as part of an effort to advance LNG bunkering service in Singapore port.
The move towards LNG use as a fuel in shipping will be compliance-driven at the outset, according to Lloyd’s Register Asia marine sales & marketing manager John Forsdyke at a recent briefing on the subject.
The port of Antwerp has performed its first LNG bunkering operation on a seagoing vessel.
Maritime associations in Germany have issued a joint statement promoting LNG as an alternative fuel for ships.