The move toward using liquid natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel is continuing to gain momentum as new environmental regulations are enacted and bunkering facilities are expanded. According to a recent forecast by MEC Intelligence, a market insight firm that focuses on the maritime sector, nearly 10,000 vessels could be adopting LNG propulsion by 2020 compared to less than 100 today. Prior to MEC’s forecast, classification society Det Norske had predicted that LNG would become the dominant fuel source for all merchant ships within 40 years. The reason for such growth is strict emission regulations requiring the reduction of sulfur oxides (SOx) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) to 0.1 percent in Emission Control Areas (ECAs) by 2015 and 0.5 percent globally by 2020. The key compliance options available for vessel operators are either adoption of new types of fuel, such as LNG or low sulphur marine gasoil, or by using “scrubber” technology on existing heavy fuel oil (HFO) burning powerplants. LNG, besides becoming cheaper as new sources are opened up through fracking, cuts carbon emissions by about 25 percent, SOx by almost 100 percent and NOx by 85 percent…. (Read Full Article)
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POLA Trade Program Receives Presidential Award
by Mark Edward Nero
The Port of Los Angeles’ Trade Connect program has earned the nation’s highest honor for promoting American export trade, the President’s “E Star” Award for Export Service…(Read Full Article)
Crowley Maritime Corp. received the award for Comprehensive Environmental Management Programs during the annual Marine Environmental Business Awards May 16 in Seattle, and other local and regional companies and individuals were also honored during the event…(Read Full Article)
Grand Alliance Shift Still Affecting Seattle TEU Volumes
by Mark Edward Nero
Port of Seattle container volumes were down 27.8 percent in April 2013 vs. the same month in 2012 and down 21.6 percent year-to-date, according to the port, with the cause being attributed to the lingering effects of Seattle’s loss of the Grand Alliance of shipping lines last summer…(Read Full Article)
Long Beach Port Updating Energy Strategy
by Mark Edward Nero
The Port of Long Beach says it is instituting a new energy policy to increase its efficiency, conservation, resiliency and renewable energy….(Read Full Article)
