By
Elizabeth Robinson |
International shipping event Posidonia 2018 opened with a focus on the importance of clean shipping and LNG-powered vessels.
Taking place from 4-8 June at the Athens Metropolitan Expo in Greece, the event was opened by the European Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc, who discussed the International Maritime Organization’s 2020 global sulphur cap, which calls for ships to use fuel oil with less than 0.5% sulphur. Bulc also highlighted the impact the European Union’s ‘Vision of Zero Emissions from transport by 2050’, would have on shipowners worldwide.
“The global sulphur cap brings valuable opportunities for the European Union manufacturing industry and Europe is leading the development on the use of LNG as a fuel for shipping, which attracts strong interest from other regions of the world,” said Bulc.
The first day of the event also focused on how the shipping industry can take a global approach to decarbonisation and environmental sustainability. Shipbuilders, engine manufacturers and providers of exhaust gas cleaning systems (scrubbers) from around the world showcased their clean fuel plans and strategies.
Representatives from shipyards in Asia also spoke about how they are helping shipowners to embrace LNG.
“We are already prepared for the installation of LNG fuel vessel for various types of vessel, but in Japan the domestic Japanese owners have not decided yet which way to go: LNG fuel, crude fuel or other types of fuel,” said Tohru Kitamura, executive vice president of Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Company, during a speech at the event. “At least 4,500 vessels belong to domestic owners and of the total newbuild order book of Mitsubishi, international shipowners account for less than half of our production. There is an increasing environmental consciousness in Japan as a result of the looming 2020 deadline and several owners will decide to apply our own scrubber system, others will select the low sulphur fuel system.”
The event also saw the launch of a new LNG bunkering project, ‘probunkers’, which will focus on the energy industries. The multi-million dollar global project offers the opportunity to invest in the shipping and energy industries.
The newly formed company will design, build and operate a fleet of modern, eco-friendly LNG bunkering vessels to meet the needs of global shipping. The project will have a three-tier role, as physical supplier, LNG trader/seller and barge owner and operator.