SEA-LNG, the coalition formed to highlight the benefits of LNG as a sustainable marine fuel, has announced that ZIM is a new member of the organisation.
The Israeli container carrier, which is also a member of the Clean Cargo Working Group (CCWG) since 2013, is working to improve the environmental performance of marine container transport and recognises the importance of LNG to achieve this goal.
“LNG-fuelled capacity further strengthens ZIM’s position at the forefront of preserving clean air and reducing carbon intensity among global liners and will enable us to assist our customers in reducing their carbon footprint,” said David Arbel, ZIM chief operating officer.
“Working collaboratively with the wider SEA-LNG coalition, we will continue to demonstrate the opportunity provided by the LNG pathway – meeting our decarbonisation goals through the gradual introduction of bio-LNG and eventually renewable synthetic LNG,” he added.
It is important to note that most of the new boxships that ZIM will add to its fleet is LNG-powered. In total, ZIM has 28 LNG container vessels with a capacity of 15,000 TEU and 7,700 TEU.
“ZIM is one of the world’s largest container lines and its commitment to LNG is yet another clear recognition that LNG is one of the fuel pathways to underpin the decarbonisation of shipping,” said Peter Keller, chairman of SEA-LNG, who added, “A pathway which starts now and one which provides major benefits to human health through the elimination of SOx and NOx emissions.”
Keller concluded, “As ZIM understands, the benefit of LNG is that it is available at scale for deep sea shipping today, and its pathway benefits from existing LNG infrastructure which can also be used for bio-LNG and renewable synthetic LNG as they become increasingly available.”