Summary
The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have released a report that identifies liquefied natural gas and methanol as the two most viable clean marine …
What this means for you
The report concerns fuels used by ships serving the trans-Pacific, so its practical relevance for Chinese readers in the US is mainly regional and port-related rather than a change in visa, immigration, education or family rules. It identifies LNG and methanol as the two most viable clean marine fuels for the near and medium future and recommends incentives for early methanol adoption so shipping lines bunker the fuel at Long Beach and Los Angeles. It also says LNG planning should focus on safe, efficient and reliable bunkering operations, with supply sourced from British Columbia, Canada, and development projects along the Baja California coastline in Mexico. For readers in the region, the ports describe strategic investments guided by the study as enabling a growing market for these green marine fuels and continuing work to improve air quality across the region in pursuit of zero-emissions ambitions.
The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have released a report that identifies liquefied natural gas and methanol as the two most viable clean marine fuels for the near and medium future.
According to the report, both LNG and methanol offer attractive pathways to cutting emissions from maritime vessels, depending on how the fuels are produced and sourced. For LNG, the fuel has the advantage of a mature global bunkering network, proven vessel technology, and the fact that there are already more than 1,500 LNG vessels in service or currently on order. Methanol has also picked up momentum in recent years among major container carriers, due to its ease of handling, compatibility with existing liquid fuel infrastructure, and its strong decarbonization potential.
“Strategic investments guided by this study will enable a growing market for these green marine fuels, helping ships serving the trans-Pacific transition to a cleaner future,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Dr. Noel Hacegaba. “The findings provide a promising path for us to work with our partners to continue improving air quality across the region in pursuit of our zero-emissions ambitions.”
Of the 19 shipping lines the ports spoke to for the study, 13 said that they support LNG as a green fuel alternative, while nine expressed support for methanol. Other options like ammonia, hydrogen and battery-electric technologies were described as important to monitor, although challenges persist around availability, infrastructure requirements and operational readiness within the next decade.
To encourage the use of green fuels at the San Pedro Bay ports, the report recommends incentivizing early adoption for methanol to encourage shipping lines to bunker the fuel at Long Beach and Los Angeles. LNG planning should also focus on developing safe, efficient and reliable bunkering operations, while pulling from existing supply sources in British Columbia, Canada, and promising upcoming development projects along the Baja California coastline in Mexico.
Source: SupplyChainBrain
Join the discussion
If you live or work near the San Pedro Bay ports, have you noticed any air-quality or shipping-related changes in your area, and do you think port incentives for cleaner marine fuels are worth pursuing?
