Americas News
U.S. Authorities Issue Recommendations on LNG Bunkering Methods
The U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) has released a new study on liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering.
The study, prepared by DNV GL, considers the pros and cons of truck-to-ship, port-to-ship, and ship-to-ship bunkering, as well as transfer of portable tanks, as methods for providing the fuel to vessels, depending on factors including the number of type of vessels involved, the local availability of LNG, and port size.
The report notes that truck-to-ship and portable tank transfer are likely to be prohibitively time-consuming for large vessels, while ship-to-ship is by far the quickest method.
For smaller vessels and ports with less demand for LNG bunkers, truck-to-ship and transfer of tanks could make more sense.
The study also offers recommendations for regulators, port operators, ship operators, and infrastructure owners on addressing safety concerns and other potential issues.
William P. Doyle, a member of the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), recently urged the nation's maritime industry to adopt LNG bunkers, given the abundance of domestic natural gas supplies.
