The largest container carrier in the world Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) decided to join SEA-LNG, a multi-sector industry coalition formed to show the benefits of the LNG pathway as a road to maritime decarbonisation.
The Swiss/Italian shipping company has made investments in LNG-fuelled vessels in various sectors in which it operates in recent years.
“We are committed to catalysing the development, accessibility and uptake of net zero fuels and believe we have found another excellent partner to help continue to drive the industry in this direction. We look forward to working with SEA-LNG to further assess and collaborate on the exciting long-term prospects of bio-LNG, particularly renewable synthetic LNG, as mainstream marine fuel molecules,” stated Bud Darr, executive vice president of Maritime Policy & Government Affairs at MSC Group.
Darr added, “In alignment with our net zero commitments by 2050, we view fossil-based LNG as a fuel in transition, and fully expect bio and renewable synthetic LNG to be a key part of our longer-term multi-fuel strategy for deploying net zero fuels.”
MSC’s first five newbuild dual-fuel LNG capable boxships entered service in 2022. MSC says it is dedicated to maintaining a contemporary fleet that will accelerate progress towards net zero decarbonisation by replacing traditional fuel vessels with dual-fuel capable vessels, particularly those powered by LNG, in the short term.
Additionally, MSC aims to run its vessels on a variety of fuel choices in the future, with a focus on those that may become accessible at scale in the years to come. The company is also an active partner and member of the Methane Abatement in Maritime Innovation Initiative (MAMII) and the Society for Gas as a Marine Fuel (SGMF).
“LNG is available at scale for deep sea shipping today. Existing LNG infrastructure can accommodate bio-LNG and renewable synthetic LNG as they become increasingly accessible, lowering investment barriers. Waiting is not an option; the LNG pathway offers immediate decarbonization benefits and a route to net-zero shipping,” stated Peter Keller, chairman of SEA-LNG.
