ABS-backed study to explore LPG suitability as marine fuel

The study, which will examine the viability of using liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as marine fuel, comes in advance of an International Maritime Organization mandate to reduce sulfur emissions from marine fuel by 85 percent in 2020.

   The American Bureau of Shipping and Connecticut-based liquefied petroleum gas shipping company Dorian LPG Ltd. are together engaging in a study to evaluate the use of LPG as a marine fuel, the two parties confirmed Sept. 20.
   The effort comes in advance of an International Maritime Organization mandate to reduce sulfur emissions of marine fuels by 85 percent in 2020.
   ABS will provide an in-depth engineering and economic analysis to assess the costs and benefits for Dorian LPG’s fleet of very large gas carriers (VLGCs) of using LPG to meet the IMO’s new global emissions standards, which were approved in November 2016, the companies said. Under the partnership, ABS said it will consider the environmental, operational and financial impact of LPG as a marine fuel and deliver its findings in the coming months.
   If the economic viability of LPG as a bunker fuel is established, Dorian LPG says it could represent “a significantly more attractive and cost effective alternative” to current methods available to comply with upcoming emissions standards.
   Dorian, as part of its VLGC newbuilding program, says it has proactively made design enhancements to allow vessels to have the option of using LPG as a marine fuel in the future.
   “LPG as a fuel source has a significant advantage over other potential sources given the over 1,000 ports around the world that already have LPG storage facilities,” the company said in a statement.
   “We believe that the relevant technologies are sufficiently advanced to allow a meaningful analysis of this environmentally friendly and cost effective fuel,” Dorian LPG Chairman and CEO John Hadjipateras explained. “If the study proves the commercial viability of LPG for marine fuel use, the company will be at the forefront of this innovation.”