As the deadline for the IMO2020 sulphur cap looms, the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has ruled out Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as a viable alternative fuel source, citing a lack of port-side LNG bunkering as the primary reason.
Speaking at the 2019 HANSA Forum in Hamburg last week, Bud Darr, the line’s executive vice president of maritime policy and government affairs, said MSC had instead opted for a combination of compliant low-sulphur fuels and exhaust gas cleaning systems..
“MSC’s fleet was greatly enhanced in recent years by a retrofitting programme. We have invested extensively in the latest low-carbon technologies, such as new energy-efficient propellers and bows to reduce fuel consumption and therefore improve our energy efficiency,” Darr said.
“In addition, we continuously monitor our environmental performance and have implemented a number of operational measures to further reduce our CO2 emissions to meet new regulations and goals set by the IMO.”
In order to decarbonise the shipping industry, ship owners have pledged to cut carbon emissions by half come 2050.
Additionally, the sulphur cap of 0.5% has made ship liners re-evaluate how they can increase efficiency while maximising environmental performance. The cap will be implemented on January 1. – Bjorn Vorster
