Japanese Trio to Study Ship-to-Ship LNG Bunkering

Uyeno Transtech, Sumitomo Corporation and Yokohama-Kawasaki International Port Corporation have agreed to study ship-to-ship LNG bunkering in Tokyo Bay, Sumitomo said March 29.

“In hoping to turn Tokyo Bay, a gateway to Asia for ships sailing in the Pacific Ocean, into a LNG bunkering hub, the three companies will jointly study the commercial feasibility of ship-to-ship LNG bunkering services using LNG bunkering vessels all the while remaining open to possible participation in such a business venture by LNG-related companies,” Sumitomo said.

LNG as ship fuel is gaining currency because the fuel generates lower emissions of sulfur oxides (SO_X), nitrogen oxides (NO_X) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) than the heavy fuel oil conventionally used as marine fuel oil. From 2020, shipping is to move to 0.5% sulphur fuel oil, under regulations agreed by the International Maritime Organization.

It is forecast that about a fourth of the world’s ship fuel use will be switched over to LNG by 2030, producing a global rise in the demand for LNG fuel, Sumitomo stated. However, it added that inadequate LNG bunkering infrastructure is among the reasons that Japan and the rest of Asia lag far behind such leading regions as Europe and the US in widely adopting LNG as marine fuel.

Along with Singapore, Japan is working towards creating adequate bunkering infrastructure to meet the projected demand for LNG as marine fuel in Asia.