With almost three years for the reason that implementation of IMO2020, geared toward decreasing sulfur in ship fuels for cleaner air, container delivery operators have launched into a journey of innovation. They’ve adopted low-sulfur fuels, scrubbers, and explored new engines and fuels. Different fuels are the popular alternative, pushed by a need for cleaner, extra sustainable choices to scale back emissions, bolster profitability, and improve their status.
LNG as a marine energy supply has a comparatively lengthy historical past in main container liner firms, notably since 2012 when it discovered use in short-sea delivery by US-based TOTE Maritime. This evaluation delves into the historic development of LNG-powered container ships, figuring out at the very least 10 main gamers who’ve made headlines on this area.
The picture above is to seize the extent of every firm’s presence in industrial media till 2017, after which by way of October 2023. The peak of every firm’s avatar is straight linked to the variety of distinct article exposures, facilitating a straightforward evaluate. Totally different scales have been employed for readability.
Previous to 2017, LNG as a substitute container ship gas was primarily a regional phenomenon, adopted primarily by American operators searching for compliance with stringent clean-air rules from the US Environmental Safety Company. Notable names throughout 2013 – 2017 included TOTE (with Sea Star), Crowley, and Matson (with Horizon Traces), with the dialogue centring on 3100 TEU vessels serving US-mainland to South American routes.
The pivotal yr of 2017 witnessed a sea change. French liner CMA CGM made historical past by turning into the primary big to utilise LNG to energy giant container vessels in response to IMO2020, sustaining its management position to today. Hyundai Service provider Marine (HMM) demonstrated early dedication with an order for eight 14 000-TEU LNG-powered ships in 2018, whereas Germany Hapaglloyd joined as a powerful supporter in 2019, subsequently inserting a considerable newbuild order for LNG-ready big container ships in 2021. Mediterranean Delivery Firm (MSC) started exploring LNG in its fleet in 2021, and Israel’s ZIM, primarily chartering its vessels, contracted 10 LNG-ready ships. In 2022, Pacific Worldwide Traces (PIL) ordered new ships outfitted with dual-fuel engines that may run on LNG or low-sulfur gas oil, whereas the latest growth in 2023 is Yang Ming’s announcement of an order for 5 15 000-TEU dual-fuel LNG vessels.
A prevailing business apply is to keep up a diversified fleet with a mixture of options, limiting the share of LNG-powered ships throughout the general fleet. Many different main container liners have adopted a wait-and-see method, remaining open to numerous options addressing emissions, together with Maersk’s pursuit of other fuels like ammonia and methanol, adopted by ONE (merged from Japanese Okay-Line, MOL and NYK) and Evergreen. MSC has embraced scrubbers, whereas others, notably COSCO, proceed with the direct method of utilizing low-sulfur gas oil (LSFO).
LNG as a ship gas has confronted criticism, citing considerations about emissions, prices, availability, vitality density, pricing, and long-term sustainability. Regardless of these reservations and scepticism about greenwashing, it stays a favoured alternative amongst delivery firms. Whereas the long-term efficacy of LNG as a marine gas is but to be decided, it’s at present gaining growing consideration and traction as an interim answer for regulatory compliance and environmental accountability.
Learn the article on-line at: https://www.lngindustry.com/special-reports/21112023/the-rise-of-lng-powered-vessels-in-container-shipping/
