Angus Campbell, Managing Director of Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement UK (BSM), recently said at Gastech: »The move to LNG as a[ds_preview] fuel is a game changer which cannot be ignored. Independent industry predictions indicate that the use of LNG as a bunker fuel offers opportunities for early movers to secure a market leading position ashore and afloat, and global LNG fuelling will become a mainstream option.«
Working in partnership with BMT Triton and Babcock LGE, BSM has developed a Gas Fuel Supply Vessel design of its own which will support LNG fuelled ships, and the delivery of gas to small onshore facilities and large off-pipe consumers.
Campbell pointed out that the programmes and regulations concerning the impact of shipping on the environment are increasing and the choice for shipowners is no longer whether to come into line, but what option they are willing to choose in order to do so.
In his view the shipping industry has no real choice – distillate fuels and the use of scrubbers with conventional fuel simply do not have the advantages offered by LNG. »Distillate fuels are expensive and there is a likelihood that the price will increase due to demand as emission regulations are enforced in multiple areas,« he explained. Ostensibly scrubbers might seem a simple alternative to LNG but the cost benefit calculation was very complex – with no guarantees that this would be accepted as a long term method of emission reduction. »LNG will be with us for a very long time – with over 200 years supply in the ground it is sustainable, meets current and planned emission limits and, as it is a clean fuel, offers maintenance cost improvements.«
