Boom times for marine LNG

Environmental regulation, economics and rapidly evolving technology are encouraging the use of liquefied natural gas as a marine fuel

The uptake of LNG in the maritime sector is encouraging developments through the entire value chain, from infrastructure and new vessel orders to engine design, fuel delivery and finance. LNG's appeal as a maritime fuel is fast spreading beyond its traditional limited use as a fuel for dedicated LNG carriers.  "I think it's fair to say that virtually every major port authority in the world today that does bunkering is looking at the viability of LNG," says Peter Keller, chairman of SEA/LNG, a multi-sector group created to encourage the widespread adoption of LNG as a marine fuel. Leading Spanish power and gas company Gas Natural SDG estimates that 22% of world bunkering consumption will be L