LNG

The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) 80th session in-person conference is under way in London at the International Maritime Organisation with the LNG shipping industry hoping for clear-cut decisions rather than the obfuscation often favoured by UN agencies as they try to please too many interests.

SEA-LNG, the coalition established to demonstrate the commercial and environmental benefits of LNG and the pathway it provides for cleaner shipping, has urged “clear and consistent” regulation from the International Maritime Organisation.

SEA-LNG, the multi-sector industry coalition established to demonstrate the commercial and environmental benefits of LNG as a marine fuel, has signed up Mexico’s natural gas company Énestas as a member and it will help provide insights into Mexican and US LNG infrastructure and bunkering.

Énestas is focused on providing competitive access to raw materials and fuels necessary for the development of regional industries and communities in Mexico.

SEA-LNG said that in doing so, Énestas has successfully built and implemented innovative logistics projects that are “one of a kind” in Latin America, including the fast-tracked Coatzacoalcos project in the Mexican state of Veracruz.

Énestas has the largest LNG distribution network in Mexico and is expanding gas infrastructure and logistics solutions in the region including LNG bunkering, where it sees strong opportunities.

“The firm is proud to join SEA-LNG as a partner that will help ship owners and operators to move forward towards a cleaner future for shipping with LNG,” said Miguel González de Cossío Vigil, Commercial Director of Énestas.

“SEA-LNG’s high-quality research and networking opportunities will be invaluable to the Énestas team as we continue to enhance gas and fuel accessibility,” he added.

Steve Esau, Chief Operating Officer, of SEA-LNG said he was delighted to have Énestas on board.

LNG expansion

“We are pleased to be able to support Énestas in its goal of safely and efficiently expanding LNG supply and bunkering infrastructure in Mexico and the USA, creating jobs and economic benefits in a key maritime region,” Esau stated.

Peter Keller, Chairman of SEA-LNG, concluded that the body is a catalyst for uniting the LNG fuel sector

“SEA-LNG continues to unite organisations from across the LNG value chain to further improve LNG availability worldwide, and to help the global shipping industry to address local emissions,” Keller said.

SEA-LNG said the recent addition of Énestas to its membership supports this drive and noted that the UK-based ship services company Clarksons reported that LNG was now available as bunkering fuel at 185 ports worldwide with a further 50 re-fuelling facilities planned by 2025.

SEA-LNG, the multi-sector industry coalition established to demonstrate the benefits of the LNG fuel for shipping, has signed up the New York Stock Exchange-listed US containership and transport company Matson serving commercial life-line services to South Pacific Islands and Hawaii, Guam and Alaska.

“We are pleased to have such a well renowned carrier and logistics company as Matson onboard,” declared Peter Keller, Chairman of SEA-LNG.

“With its long history of positive innovation in the important and environmentally sensitive markets it serves, Matson will add valuable expertise to the coalition,” explained Keller.

“We are also pleased to be able to help the company achieve its critical decarbonisation aims through the LNG pathway,” stated the Chairman.

US-China

In addition to its South Pacific services Matson also provides economic links between China and Long Beach, California, and between the US and Okinawa in Japan.

Another premium located served by Matson is Dutch Harbor on Amaknak Island in Alaska.

SEA-LNG said that Matson’s core values align well with those of the alliance with the company prioritising the environment, safety, innovation and integrity in all of its operations.

“Matson is already working collaboratively across the shipping industry to promote positive change and to mitigate the industry’s environmental impact. It has also invested in sustainability across the company, for example in the design of new state-of-the-art vessels,” said SEA-LNG.

SEA-LNG noted that in 2023 Matson will be among the first shipping companies to convert existing containerships to operate on LNG.

Retrofits

“Retrofits of dual-fuel systems can future-proof investments and reduce the risk of stranded assets,” it said.

“They offer shipowners a viable pathway to net-zero emissions by 2050, while also providing optionality, more stable costs and lower emissions along the way,” added SEA-LNG.

Other fuels are emerging to sit alongside LNG as a cleaner fuel such as BioLNG, which is already commercially available as a drop-in bunker fuel.

“The LNG pathway is an important part of our strategy for reducing the greenhouse-gas emissions of our fleet by 40 percent by 2030,” said Matt Cox, Chairman and Chief Executive of Matson.

“The transition to bioLNG and in the longer term e-LNG, as well as continuing to improve the commercial availability of conventional LNG worldwide, will be critical to achieving our goals,” added Cox.

“We believe SEA-LNG will be a valuable partner on this journey and we look forward to working with them,” stated the CEO.

Sea-LNG, the UK-registered non-profit industry foundation committed to furthering the use of LNG as a cleaner and superior maritime fuel, has urged an end to the misrepresentation of the status of methane-slip risks delaying the build-out of a cleaner LNG-powered fleet.

Sea-LNG, a global coalition led by energy and shipping companies backing the increased use of liquefied natural gas as a maritime fuel, has issued a report demonstrating the long-term competitive advantages of LNG for shipping in terms of financing.

Sea-LNG, a global coalition led by energy and shipping companies backing the increased use of liquefied natural gas as a maritime fuel, has signed up a Port in Oman in the Arabian Peninsula aiming to be a main LNG base with its own production plant.

Sea-LNG, a global coalition of energy and shipping companies and other sector participants backing the increased use of liquefied natural gas as a maritime fuel, has signed up US LNG equipment-maker Chart Industries as the newest member.

LNG industry coalition, SEA\LNG, has expanded its US membership network by welcoming Houston-based Stabilis Energy to its ranks.
 
Peter Keller, Chairman, SEA\LNG, commented: “Welcoming Stabilis Energy as a new member demonstrates SEA\LNG’s continued commitment within the ever expanding North American LNG market. LNG is growing in importance in both the energy and marine bunkering markets. Stabilis operates at the forefront of this expansion.”
 
Stabilis Energy provides small-scale LNG production, distribution and fuelling services to multiple end markets in North America. It owns and operates a liquefaction and storage facility in George West, Texas, as well as a fleet of over 150 cryogenic rolling stock equipment pieces throughout North America. Stabilis supplies LNG for use in the industrial, mining, energy, utility, pipeline, and transportation end markets, as well as marine bunkering services. 

Jim Reddinger, Stabilis Energy President and CEO, said: “LNG is an increasingly important part of the marine bunkering infrastructure throughout North America and across the globe. We specialise in producing LNG and delivering it to its last port of call, as it were, where it is ready for transfer to ocean-going vessels. As members of SEA\LNG we look forward to supporting this integral part of the growing LNG bunkering network throughout North America and beyond.”
 
To help fund growth plans and operating presence, as well as investments in LNG production and distribution, Stabilis recently completed a number of initiatives, including a public listing on the Nasdaq stock exchange (ticker symbol: SLNG), investment from Chart Industries and two strategic transactions in Mexico.
 
Keller added: “Communication and collaboration across the LNG value chain is essential to breaking down barriers to the adoption of LNG as an important and economically viable marine fuel. It is encouraging to see Stabilis Energy engaging with its partners to strengthen the small-scale LNG network. We look forward to working with them to expand LNG bunkering infrastructure in the Americas.”
 

Sea-LNG, a global coalition of energy and shipping companies backing the increased use of liquefied natural gas as a maritime fuel, has put the economics case for newbuild Pure Car and Truck Carriers (PCTC) on Pacific and Atlantic trade lanes to be powered by LNG.