A major cross sectoral initiative tasked with reducing methane emissions across the maritime industry – the Methane Abatement in Maritime Innovation Initiative – has announced seven new members at a Lloyd’s Register LNG Forum event in Doha, Qatar.
New members include CoolCo, United Overseas Management, Capital Gas, Celsius Tankers, Global Meridian Holdings, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), and TMS Cardiff Gas.
Led by Safetytech Accelerator, current members of the Methane Abatement in Maritime Innovation Initiative (MAMII) include Maran Gas Maritime, Mediterranean Shipping Company, Carnival Corporation & Plc, Seaspan Corporation, Shell, Lloyd’s Register and Knutsen Group.
Also read: EU funding for Green Ray project to tackle methane slip
Identifying, accelerating and advocating technology solutions
MAMII was formed in September 2022 to identify, accelerate and advocate technology solutions for the maritime industry to measure and manage methane emissions activity. In doing so, it aims to minimise the environmental impact of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in shipping, whilst aiding the transition to future fuel solutions.
The new members bring a wealth of expertise from across the LNG value chain to the initiative, in a signal that they hope shows the industry’s action to tackle methane emissions in maritime is strengthening.
Methane slip
Compared with traditional marine fuels, LNG is widely understood to generate less carbon dioxide (CO2), and emit less nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, and particulate matter, for the same propulsion power. This makes it a popular and widely used transition fuel.
However, analysis has indicated that the environmental benefits of using LNG could be partially negated due to any unburned methane passing through the combustion process, also called methane slip.
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, estimated to have a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 27-30 over 100 years, while CO2 has a GWP of 1 regardless of time period used.
Also read: Coalition to tackle methane emissions to minimise the impact of LNG in shipping
Methane abatement gaining traction
In its first six months, MAMII has already mapped the LNG fuel landscape from the well to the ship, identified key measurements required, and has identified a range of potential new technology for measurement on board ships.
The progress of MAMII comes at a time when methane abatement initiatives are gaining traction globally, such as the Green Ray project, which recently won funding from the European Union.
The initiative is chaired by Panos Mitrou, Lloyd’s Register’s Global Gas Director, and directed by Safetytech Accelerator’s Head of Partnerships, Steve Price.
Steve Price, head of partnerships at Safetytech Accelerator: ‘We are looking forward to the next few months when we move from analysis and research into piloting new methane measurement technology on ships. Measuring actual emissions is a critical step in the decarbonisation of the shipping journey.’
Also read: Is there still a future for LNG as a shipping fuel?
