LNG

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 coalition established to demonstrate the commercial and environmental benefits of LNG and the pathway it provides for cleaner shipping, has signed up Nikkiso Clean Energy and Industrial Gases (Nikkiso CEIG) is the latest member company.

Nikkiso supplies equipment, technologies and engineering services to support the safe operation of LNG as a marine fuel.

“SEA-LNG’s membership will open up networking and collaboration opportunities for Nikkiso to support its work on cryogenic pumps and process systems as well as broader cryogenic services,” said a statement.

The group also works on heat exchanger systems and Nikkiso Turboexpander systems and has experience in boil-off-gas management for LNG fuelled vessels, methane slip mitigation, and integrated LNG fuel gas supply systems.

Wide options 

Peter Keller, Chairman of SEA-LNG, said that to achieve its cleaner shipping targets the industry would require a basket of fuels and technology options.

“Collaboration across the entire LNG value chain, with companies like Nikkiso, ensures that LNG will have a place as a key part of that basket,” added Keller.

“As an important marine fuel, LNG can deliver on decarbonisation now with immediate greenhouse-gas emissions reductions and that provides a low risk, incremental pathway for decarbonisation through bio-LNG and renewable synthetic e-LNG,” he stated in looking well into the future.

Peter Wagner, Chief Executive of the Nikkiso CEIG, said the the group aimed to encourage the shipping industry to swiftly adopt LNG as a marine fuel, because it provides a readily and immediately available low-carbon clean energy.

“The fuel also has the physical properties to facilitate a more efficient ship construction integration compared to alternative fuels,” added Wagner.

“This enables the maritime industry to lower emissions by a further 20 percent on the basis of clean energy and efficient ship designs,” he said.

Gradual process

Steve Esau, Chief Operating Officer of SEA-LNG, concluded that the carbon-neutral fuel solutions would not arrive in a “big-bang” process and instead there would be incremental decarbonisation of existing assets as fuel production, transportation, storage and bunkering infrastructure and engine technologies develop.

“We are excited to welcome another new member whose innovative technology and engineering expertise supports the cost-effective operation of LNG as a marine fuel today,” stated Esau.

SEA-LNG is a UK-registered not-for-profit collaborative industry foundation serving the needs of its member organisations and is committed to furthering the use of LNG as an important, environmentally superior maritime fuel.

It has members across the entire LNG value chain including providers of the product, users, engine and asset suppliers and class societies.

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.

The Sultanate of Oman is making progress with developing the Sohar Port and Freezone that is also the future site of an LNG bunkering project on the Arabian Sea coast and near the entry to the Gulf by the Strait of Hormuz.

Pavilion Energy, the subsidiary of Singapore wealth fund Temasek, said its trading unit had signed an agreement with US major Chevron Corp. for the Asian city state to receive LNG shipments for six years with emissions measured along the value chain.

Sea-LNG, a global coalition led by energy and shipping companies backing the increased use of liquefied natural gas as a maritime fuel, said the LNG and energy Port of Corpus Christi, the largest in the United States by total revenue tonnage, has become the latest member.

The Port of Corpus Christi in Texas is the fourth North American port to join the coalition but is the first port located on the strategic, energy-rich Gulf of Mexico.

Since launching in July 2016, Sea-LNG’s membership has grown from 13 to more than 40 members from leading global companies,
“The Port of Corpus Christi is one of the United States’ leading energy ports, and has been quick to appreciate the importance of LNG into its bunker offering,” said Peter Keller, Chairman of Sea-LNG.

“ We’re delighted to welcome this forward thinking and innovative port into our membership at a time when the maritime sector continues to aggressively work to decarbonise its operations as well as reduce local emissions harmful to human health,” added Kellner.

The Port of Corpus Christi’s decision to join Sea-LNG was a part of its commitment to environmental stewardship.

The Port purchases 100 percent of its power from renewable sources, is upgrading its vehicle fleet to electric and hybrid technology, and is creating a technological advancement programme for emissions control and decarbonisation.

“As the leading energy port in the Americas, the Port of Corpus Christi considers LNG indispensable in our energy export portfolio, with the expansion of local operations helping to propel the United States as a top global LNG exporter,” said Port of Corpus Christi Chief Executive Sean Strawbridge.

“By joining Sea-LNG, we’re sending a clear message that LNG as a marine fuel aligns with our ambition to strengthen our competitiveness in LNG as a leading fuel for the transport sector,” added

Sea-LNG has members across the entire LNG value chain including providers of the product, users, engine and asset suppliers, and class societies.

The group is already recognised as an international leader in LNG matters. Each member organisation commits mutually agreed human resources, data analysis and knowledge sharing.

Sea-LNG said it regarded itself as a driver in a multi-sector industry aiming for a global adoption of LNG to create cleaner shipping by 2025.

Sea-LNG’s other members include: ABS, Carnival Corp., Chart Industries, Clean Marine Energy, DNV GL, Eagle LNG Partners, Fearnleys, FortisBC, Gasum AS, GE Marine, GTT, JAX LNG, “K” LINE Group, Lloyd’s Register, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and NYK Line.

The membership list additionally includes The Port of Long Beach, Port of Rotterdam, Port of Virginia, Qatargas, Shell, Société Générale, Sohar Port & Freezone, Stabilis Energy, Sumitomo Corp., Total, TOTE Inc., Toyota Tsusho, Uyeno Group of Companies, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, Wärtsilä, and Yokohama-Kawasaki International Port Corp.

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.