DNV GL will launch the LNG Fuel Finder, a new tool on its LNG portal “LNGi”, that is expected to help shipowners and charterers to register their interest in using LNG as a ship fuel free of charge, connecting them directly with LNG suppliers.
The LNG Fuel Finder helps shipowners and LNG suppliers to come together, by providing shipowners with the opportunity to show the supply industry their interest in LNG bunkering and by helping to overcome the high entry barrier for new suppliers to the market.
The company explains that bunkering availability is a major stumbling block for shipowners looking to make their first moves in LNG as a marine fuel, because information can be hard to find, and it remains challenging to keep track of new developments. On the other hand, many LNG suppliers find it difficult to aggregate sufficient demand to justify investment decisions.
With the new tool, shipowners can quickly and easily inform LNG suppliers about their potential interest in bunkering LNG in specific locations. Shipowners and charterers will be able to login and submit a request for LNG bunkering for free, specifying location, volume and from which date they would like to bunker LNG – then, this information will be made available to LNG suppliers. The tool should prove useful for shipowners evaluating their fuel decision for newbuilds, who would like to efficiently confirm or dismiss the feasibility of the LNG option, and connect with all potential suppliers.
“In the future, we plan to incorporate additional market intelligence features in the tool,” says Martin Wold, Senior Consultant Environmental Advisory at DNV GL – Maritime.
Alongside the launch of the LNG Fuel Finder, there are also further optimizations to LNGi. Other new features include AIS tracking of LNG bunker vessels, additional data on LNG-fuelled ships, insights on the most frequently visited ports as well as the new lean version of LNGi, which is free of charge.