In a world’s first, Singapore-based BW LPG announced that it has signed contracts including future options for the delivery and retrofitting of four LPG-propelled dual-fuel engines in its fleet, as part of its efforts to prepare for the 2020 sulphur cap. BW LPG expects the first retrofitting to take place in conjunction with scheduled drydockings starting 2020.
With LPG propulsion, BW LPG expects to reduce its sulphur oxide emissions by up to 97%, allowing for full compliance with all current and future sulphur emissions requirements.
This means the retrofitted ships, when operating on LPG, will go beyond IMO’s global 0.5% sulphur emissions cap to also be in full compliance with Emission Control Areas (ECA) and Sulphur Emission Control Areas’ (SECA) 0.1% sulphur cap.
In addition, with LPG fuel, BW LPG will reduce emissions of:
- particulate matters by ~90 percent,
- greenhouse gases by ~25%, and
- nitrogen oxides by ~20%.
LPG as a marine fuel offers efficiency gains on many fronts. Output efficiencies will improve by ~11% with LPG when compared with compliant fuels. This means that we capture significant improvements in total voyage fuel economics. Other efficiencies gained with LPG include easy storage, faster refueling and wide availability of bunkering ships and facilities. All these ensure that LPG is a long-term sustainable marine fuel.
LPG as a marine fuel is one of the future-proof and cost-efficient solutions for environmental compliance. LPG propulsion means that engines are cleaner, cheaper to maintain and provide higher efficiency. Dual-fuel engines provides fuel flexibility, which means full redundancy to ensure uninterrupted operations. Conversion to LPG propelled dual-fuel engines is a life-cycle upgrade and long-term commitment.
