Wärtsilä Defends GHG Credentials of LNG Bunkers

Wärtsilä has defended LNG as a solution for reducing shipping's emissions.

Marit Holmlund-Sund, Senior Manager for Marketing and Communications at Wärtsilä Corporation's (Wärtsilä's) Marine Solutions has defended the promotion of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as fuel for ships in the face of concerns raised about environmental impacts resulting from LNG's related methane emissions, Loadstar reports.

Specifically, Holmlund-Sund's comments come in response to industry veteran Ian Adams' recent suggestion that LNG bunkers are not a solution for reducing shipping's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and could actually be worse for the environment than burning heavy fuel oil.

"A methane slip of 6g/kWh can normally be regarded as the 'break-even' level," Holmlund-Sund told Loadstar, and that limiting slippage to under 6g/kWh is both possible and currently available.

"Wärtsilä continuously develops its engines and in-engine remedy technologies to reach even lower methane levels and consequently many of the Wärtsilä large gas engines can reach 3-4 g/kWh."

Holmlund-Sund says that, under normal operating conditions, GHG emissions of vessels using LNG propulsion, as calculated in CO2 equivalents, have been shown to be 5-10 percent lower than those operating on HFO.

"LNG is one of the most emission-sound fuels, and replacing conventional fuels with LNG will significantly reduce vessel emissions," concluded Holmlund-Sund, noting that in addition, compared to conventional bunkers, and without the use of exhaust gas scrubbers, LNG can reduce NOx, SOx, and particulate matter (PM) by 85 percent, 99 percent, and 90 percent, respectively.

Earlier this month, following news that a 0.5 percent global sulfur cap on marine fuel will be implemented from 2020, Wärtsilä said its offering of dual-fuel marine engines and exhaust gas cleaning (EGC) systems means the company is "well positioned" to help shipowners ensure compliance.