LNG, fuelling the ships of the future

The IMO (International Maritime Organization) has set an ambitious goal for 2020. The aim is to reduce the overall emissions from ships, especially sulphur, which is the most harmful. In this context let us take a look at what LNG has to offer as an alternative ship fuel.

Source: International Maritime Organization (IMO)

In the words of the IMO themselves, the International Maritime Organization is “the United Nations specialized agency [that is responsible] for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine and atmospheric pollution by ships.” They are the ones trying to create a set of fair, effective and universally adopted regulations for the shipping industry.

Shipping is the most efficient and cost-effective way to transport almost everything across large distances. It accounts for over 80% of global trade and is an essential part of many economies. In this context, the IMO is trying to actively work towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as a part of the United Nations family. This is where LNG comes into play.

LNG is considered one of the most economically viable, reliable and sustainable solutions for ship fueling. It is considerably more environmentally friendly than the current fuels, and a more realistic switch compared to other currently available alternatives. From 2020 on, following the IMO announcement only ships using fuels with sulphur content equal to or lower than 0.5% will be allowed to sail. Ships that use fuels that are over the permitted sulphur limits (the current limitation is 3.5%), will be required to use emission-cleaning equipment to stay within the new margins.