For over 10 years, LNG has been considered ‘the next fuel’ for shipping, while more recently this view has been changing and is now typically thought of as a ‘transition fuel’. Those assumptions were first significantly challenged in 2018 with the adoption of the IMO’s initial strategy which sets clear GHG reduction targets and a vision to phase out the sector’s use of fossil fuels. As efforts to understand what this means have intensified and the practical implications of the IMO commitment have been unpacked, the role of LNG even as a significant interim/transition fuel are increasingly being questioned.
However, fleet and infrastructure already exist, and will most likely continue to be built, not least because without the ultimate long term alternative, LNG is seen by many as ‘the least bad’ available option. This creates a thorny engineering, scientific and technology set of conundrums:
– What are the potential timescales for LNG use as a marine fuel that might be scientifically consistent with the IMO and UNFCCC commitments?
– What is the operability of LNG-related assets in the longer-run of the sector?
– How can engineering and technology solutions increase flexibility so that shipping’s decarbonisation is not constrained by what is available today?
About the roundtable
This roundtable will be hosted at the IMarEST HQ and aims to tackle some of the difficult questions now facing the shipping industry with regards to the future role of LNG.
Lunch will be provided before the roundtable kicks off and refreshments will be available throughout the day and during breaks.
A report based on the discussions will be published following the event, if you would like to follow the continuing discussions you may also be interested to join our Emissions from Shipping and Alternative Fuels for Shipping SIGs as a corresponding member.
Register
The roundtable is free to attend, but spaces are limited and pre-registration is required. Experts wishing to attend the event should send a request email to technical@imarest.org highlighting their specific area of expertise.
