LNG powered ships

Captains,

I just returned from participation in the North Atlantic Coast Guard Forum annual meeting of 20 Coast Guards with interests in the North Atlantic and Arctic. I was pleased to learn that the Norwegian Coast Guard operates dual diesel-LNG powered vessels. Pictured below is the offshore patrol vessel, N0CGV Barentshav, commissioned in August 2009.

RADM W

A New Focus on Natural Gas-Powered Vessels
September 30, 2010
The use of natural gas in the form of LNG (liquefied natural gas) as a fuel for vessels in the United States is receiving focus from both the natural gas and maritime industries.

At the September meeting of the Natural Gas Roundtable of Washington, D.C., speakers from the natural gas and maritime industries addressed “Natural Gas and the Marine Industry – the Next Major Gas Demand Opportunity and Strategic Implications.” Historically, LNG as a vessel fuel has been restricted to certain operations in the Scandinavian countries.

Although existing vessels can be converted to natural gas, most of the demand will come from new construction. It has been reported that the investment in using LNG fueled engines should be recouped within two years.

Environmental benefits from the use of LNG can be significant. By August 2012 ships in the coastal waters of the United States and Canada will have to comply with low sulfur requirements of the North American Emission Control Area. Natural gas can be a logical fuel supply to satisfy these types of requirements for reduced emissions. Pipeline quality gas has near-zero SO₂, and about 20 percent of the NO₂and 80 percent of the CO₂ of alternative marine fuels.

J. Michael Cavanaugh- Washington
James "Jim" Hohenstein- New York
Joel F. Zipp- Washington