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NEW VENUE | NEW FORMAT | NEW IDEAS | NEW OPPORTUNITIES | NEW ERA

Greetings from Dubai where I was invited to present at a conference entitled “Methanol as a Marine Fuel” produced by Capt. Saleem Alavi’s Sea Commerce.  What a fascinating voyage into the opportunities, and challenges, presented by methanol as a bridge from here into decarbonization.

Much has been said about LNG as a “bridging” fuel, but not much has been said about methanol, which has the capability to move the maritime industry into a world without carbon.  Already it reduces SOx by 99%, NOx by 60% and PM by 95% and has an 11% lower CO2 content than diesel for new ships.  The ability to produce methanol from renewable sources offers the maritime industry a fuel that has very attractive carbon life cycle analysis, allowing a greater reduction in the industry’s carbon footprint.  It can also be used in existing equipment with modest modifications to vessels or in dual fuel engines, which reduces the capital expense of having emission-compliant vessels.  Further, it’s pricing tracks alongside MGO, so the OPEX is comparable.  On top of that, it is widely available.

So why are we only now hearing a quartet around this issue, as opposed to the choir that has been singing the LNG anthem for about 17 years?  Is it time for the industry, writ large, to take a serious look at the possibilities offered by this option?  As an industry that is facing imminent Sulphur requirements with GHG reductions only a few years ahead, the time is now to pull out all the stops on providing options for shipowners as they navigate these choppy waters.

Keep optimizing,

Carleen

• Interview with Michael McNamara, Veritas Petroleum Services
• Digitalization
• Automation
• Emissions
• Human Element
• Ballast Water
• SHIPPINGInsight Updates

Danish Ship Finance predicts the end of freight rates

2018-12-04 – Start-up investor Rainmaking and influential Copenhagen financier Danish Ship Finance have joined forces to launch a 44-page report on how digitalisation might change shipping through to 2030 with the possibility that freight rates could become a thing of the past. . . READ MORE

NYK takes next step in digitalising shipmanagement

2018-12-04 – Japanese shipping major Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) yesterday unveiled a new digital platform to take its shipmanagement operations forward.  Called NiBiKi, the platform will take data to shared with five affiliated shipmanagement companies overseeing about 260 NYK vessels. . . READ MORE

CMA CGM Signs Up for Freightos Online Booking Platform

2018-12-05 – French shipping giant CMA CGM has signed up to become the first ocean carrier listed on the online freight marketplace Freightos. . . READ MORE

Lion Air Crash Leads to Dispute Over Automated Control System

2018-12-04 – The dispute between Lion Air and Boeing over the crash of a 737 Max 8 jetliner in October is intensifying, and Lion Air may attempt to cancel some of the 190-odd aircraft it has on order from the Chicago-based aerospace company. The circumstances leading up to the crash – and the ensuing disagreement – center on the design of automated navigation systems and the decision making role of human operators. . . READ MORE

Study finds ports lag other industries when it comes to automation

2018-12-12 – Consultant McKinsey has issued an in-depth study on the future of automated ports, suggesting the sector is behind the curve compared to other industries. . . READ MORE

Wärtsilä Unveils Lifeboats for Buildings to Highlight Need for Climate Change Action

2018-12-04 – As part of campaign highlighting the need for immediate action to reduce the impacts of fossil fuel-driven climate change, Finnish technology group Wärtsilä has unveiled a controversial idea that envisions lifeboats for buildings on land in flood-prone areas. . . READ MORE

Maersk sets out to become carbon neutral by 2050

2018-12-05 – Maersk has set out to become carbon neutral by 2050.  To achieve this goal, it has said carbon neutral vessels must be commercially viable by 2030, and an acceleration in new innovations and adaption of new technology is required. . . READ MORE

Building a maritime legacy in the age of digital transformation

2018-12-05 – Andreas Sohmen-Pao, the head of the BW Group and chairman of the Singapore Maritime Foundation, shares his views on what it will take to remain a vibrant shipping hub in the future. . . READ MORE

New Act on BWM signed into law with implications on EPA VGP

2018-12-06 – On December 4, 2018, US President Trump signed the USCG Authorization Act, S. 140, a new bill which includes measures for USCG operations while incorporates the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA). Namely, with this act, USCG is required to draft a policy letter for testing BWMS within 180 days, followed by a 90 day comment period. Totally, the USCG has 360 days after the date of enactment of the Act to come up with a final policy. What is more, this bill has wide implications on US EPA VGP, due in March 2019. . . READ MORE