Liquified Natural Gas (LNG)

Charles Dubouix Last update 23/06/2023

Alternative Fuels : Liquified Natural Gas (LNG)

Key take-aways

LNG stands for Liquified Natural Gas. LNG is an alternative maritime fuel. It reduces CO2 emissions by 25% and almost entirely eliminates other air pollutants such as SOx, NOx, and PM10.

CMA-CGM offers the most mature LNG offering.

LNG is available on all CMA trades, with no operational constraints thanks to the Book And Claim Scheme.

LNG remains a fossil fuel, so it is a transitional fuel.

💡

OVRSEA does not profit from its green offers, and provides them at cost price.

Going Further

LNG (Liquified Natural Gas) is the liquid state of natural gas (fossil) when cooled to about -162 degrees Celsius. At this temperature dramatically reduce its volume, to a 1/600th of its original volume and enable better transportation and storage.

LNG significantly reduces emissions compared to traditional marine fuels. It can cut sulfur emissions by 100%, particulate matter emissions by 85-95%, and nitrogen oxide emissions by 85-90%. However, while it emits 25% less CO2 than other fossil fuels, it's not a zero-carbon solution.

Contrary to Biofuels, which are drop-in solutions (no need to invest in new infrastructure nor engines) the adoption of LNG requires substantial investment in infrastructure, such as LNG bunkering facilities and specialized engines for ships. These upfront costs can be a barrier.

💡

LNG is nothing more than a first step While LNG is cleaner burning than other fossil fuels, it's still a finite resource, and its extraction and use continue to contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. A move towards LNG could be seen as a stepping stone towards a lower carbon maritime industry, but it's not a complete solution in the fight against climate change.

⚠️

Do not confuse LNG and Bio-LNG BIO-LNG, or bio-liquefied natural gas, is a type of biofuel made from organic waste material, in contrast to LNG, which is made from natural gas. Organic waste material can include agricultural waste, manure, municipal waste, plant material, sewage, green waste, or food waste. Bio-LNG, compatible with existing LNG infrastructure and engine technologies, is the intended replacement for conventional LNG.

💡

OVRSEA LNG

The LNG provided by OVRSEA is a fossil-based LNG, thus not a Bio-LNG. Carrier : CMA-CGM

🎉

🎉 Well done! You know all about LNG! 💪 Keep on learning on alternative fuels 🗺️ Go back to the Academy