LNG

As the adoption of LNG as a ship fuel continues to speed up, European maritime classification society DNV GL plans to commercially launch in April 2020 a new online bunkering platform to take operators from the order process through to delivery.

Sea-LNG, a global coalition of energy and shipping companies backing the increased use of liquefied natural gas as a maritime fuel, has signed up its first North American port as a member.

The latest member is the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, the federal agency of the Port of Vancouver in the Pacific Coast province of British Columbia, Canada’s largest port and the fourth port member to join the coalition.

The other port company members are the Port of Rotterdam, Yokohama-Kawasaki International Port Corp. of Japan and most recently the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.

“Together, the ports remain committed to supporting the coalition’s vision of a competitive global LNG value chain for cleaner maritime shipping,” said Sea-LNG.

The Sea-LNG group, founded in 2016 to help provide strategic development of the emerging LNG marine fuel market and encourage the building of bunkering infrastructure, now has around 40 company and port authority members.

Peter Keller, the Sea-LNG Chairman is also Executive Vice President of US shipping line TOTE Maritime Inc.

“We are pleased to welcome the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority to our growing coalition and look forward to leveraging their expertise to realise our vision of developing LNG infrastructure in ports around the globe to enable quick, safe and cost-effective bunkering,” said Keller.

Sea-LNG said that the Pore of Vancouver was working closely with the regional gas supplier, Fortis BC and with industry and governments to advance LNG bunkering.

“As part of our vision to be the world’s most sustainable port, we engage in a number of emissions management initiatives that help support a healthy environment,” said Duncan Wilson, Vice President of Environment, Community and Government Affairs for the Canadian port.

“This partnership with Sea-LNG represents an opportunity for us to be part of a multi-sector group that is reducing marine shipping emissions and improving air quality,” added Wilson.

Sea-LNG said it was undertaking studies and developing tools with partners for the industry to better understand the true benefits of LNG from both an air quality and greenhouse-gas mitigation perspective.

“The coalition continues to encourage meaningful debate using accurate, independent data which has been academically verified through sound analysis,” said Sea-LNG.

The American Bureau of Shipping, the US classification society, has granted approval to two Chinese designs related to ship fuel for vessels powered by liquefied natural gas being constructed by the Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Group Co.

French LNG storage technology company GTT and Dongsung Finetec, a South Korean thermal insulation maker, have signed an accord for joint venture production during the Paris visit of a trade delegation accompanying South Korean President Moon Jae-In.

Gasum, the natural gas network operator in Finland and owner of the Skangas LNG distribution business, plans to invest in the construction of around 50 more natural gas filling stations for heavy-duty vehicles in Finland, Sweden and Norway by the beginning of the 2020s.

Korea Gas Corp., the Asian nation’s main utility and liquefied natural importer, said it would invest 1 trillion won (US$895 million) through 2025 to establish infrastructure for LNG-powered vessels and trucks.

Gaztransport and Technigaz (GTT), the French liquefied natural gas storage technology company, has signed a contract with the Norwegian Vard shipyard for the supply of LNG tanks for the ice-breaking cruise ship “Ponant”.

Chart Industries, the US liquefied natural gas equipment-maker and industrial gases company, has named Jillian C. Evanko as Chief Executive and President to replace incumbent William C. Johnson and has elected her to the board.

MAN Diesel & Turbo, the European maritime equipment and engine maker, said it was selected to provide a complete power package and fuel-gas system for the world’s first fishing vessel with LNG propulsion.

Four Japanese companies have formed two joint ventures to develop the LNG bunkering market in the ports of Japan, similar to operations started in the northwest European ports of Rotterdam in the Netherlands and Zeebrugge in Belgium.