[091018.EN.SEA] APL: Massive Global Bunkering Infrastructure Needed To Make LNG Viable

APL chief executive Nicolas Sartini says the shipping world needs a global LNG bunkering infrastructure, after its parent French shipping giant CMA CGM ordered nine LNG-powered 22,000-TEU ships, reports Colchester's Seatrade Maritime News.

The ocean carrier world is divided between using cheaper standard bunker and having it cleansed with costly shipboard scrubbers, or using tricky and potentially engine-damaging yet compliant blends or using safe but expensive and rarely used LNG (liquefied natural gas).

CMA CGM took the groundbreaking step of ordering LNG-powered mega ships, a move it hopes will provide a massive uptake of LNG as marine fuel, but it is a gamble as there are only 200 LNG-fuelled cargo carriers afloat - barring LNG tankers.

Said Mr Sartini: "The viability of ships using LNG depends very much on the LNG bunkering infrastructure, very much in its infancy today."

Most LNG ships today are coastal vessels limited to European waters, Mr Sartini told Singapore International Bunkering Conference (Sibcon).

"We have not seen any significant developments to suggest LNG will run to a global scale for it to be a viable solution for 2020," said Mr Sartini.

LNG as a marine fuel is an alternative option to meet the 2020 sulphur cap rather than burning low sulphur fuels or fitting exhaust gas scrubbers.

"For it to be operational certainty for carriers the global energy infrastructure must ensure with supply sources in more parts of the world," Mr Sartini said.

While CMA CGM has taken the plunge with LNG-fuelled mega-ships, it will primarily comply with the IMO's 0.5 per cent global sulphur cap through the use of low sulphur blends, as well as installing and retro-fitting scrubbers.

Source : HKSG.