Tag: alternative fuels

With discussion and reporting about the IMO 2020 sulphur cap regulation, entering into effect January 1st 2020, AAL Shipping informed that it will use of low sulphur fuel, in order to comply with the 2020 sulphur cap. These measures will come into effect from September 1st 2019.

With many uncertainties still surrounding the global fuel sulphur cap, which takes effect on 1 January 2020, North P&I Club decided to update its 2020 fuel sulphur cap guidance after recent developments. The Club's 'Preparing for the Big Switch' guides have been updated following the clarification on regulation and compliance from the IMO meeting at MEPC 74.

Marinvest, the Swedish ship-management company, announced that its 'Mari Jone' and 'Mari Boyle', two of the first vessels fueled by dual-fuel ME-LGI (Liquid Gas Injection Methanol) engines operating on methanol, have each passed 10,000 operating hours on the alternative fuel.

Point and Sandwick Trust along with Wood, Siemens-Gamesa, Engie, ITM, CMAL, Johnston Carmichael and Ferguson Marine, published a feasibility study to assess the suitability of using hydrogen produced from local wind farms to power future ferry services operating in the Western Isles and West Coast of Scotland.

During the inaugural Hellenic American Maritime Forum in Athens, Dr. Khorshed Alam, COO, Viswa Group, talked about the sulphur 2020 options and alternatives, explaining how these solutions can be implemented, as well as what challenges are possible to occur.

In this video, WinGD’s CEO, Klaus Heim, and Vice President for R&D, Dominik Schneiter, discuss with ExxonMobil’s Marine Fuels Venture Manager, Luca Volta, and Global Marine Equipment Builder Manager, Steve Walker regarding engine design and LNG growth to 2020 readiness and what happens beyond January 1st 2020.

Compliance with 2020 sulphur cap is more than simply switching to a low sulphur fuel. HSFO, the fuel that was used so far but now will be inappropriate unless there are scrubbers installed, is primarily based on residual fuel and tends to adhere to the inside of fuel tanks. As such, a proper tank cleaning becomes necessary.

With 1 January 2020 less than five and a half months away, Intercargo raised concerns regarding the magnitude of the challenge lying ahead for the industry, and highlighted the need for a smooth transition. Intercargo said that the requirement for the sulphur content of fuel oil used by ships operating outside designated emission control areas not to exceed 0.50% as of 1 January 2020 marks a sea change in the marine fuels’ supply chain.

Construction has begun on liquefaction facilities linked to the Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) project at Port Hastings in Victoria, which will look at the feasibility of turning brown coal from the Latrobe Valley into hydrogen, which would then be liquefied and exported to Japan. The project has the potential to create $2 billion in exports for Australia.

In its July 2019 Short-Term Energy Outlook, the US Energy Information Administration expects Henry Hub natural gas spot prices for June, July, and August this year to average $2.37 per million British thermal units. If this happens, this price would be the lowest summer average Henry Hub natural gas price since 1998.