 
| |
|
News » Interviews
| |
 |
Spyridon Zolotas: We see LNG the solution for the future
NafsGreen
Tuesday, 24 March 2015 |
Please describe the importance of the infrastructure (bunkering), which will enable the growing wave of LNG new builds and conversions to operate properly.
It is well recognized that Shipowners have been reluctant to commit to LNG fuel with no supply infrastructure in place and bunker supply firms, ports and terminals are reluctant to invest in infrastructure until they see proven demand. No one wants to make the first investment not knowing whether others will follow. It’s difficult to decide to invest many millions in a bunkering tanker when the first question is, what is my market. The market will be developed, but when? And when will LNG be convenient from a technical and economical point of view? At this moment, with the fuel price dropping down, the importance of the financial issue both for the investment in LNG infrastructure and for LNG new building or LNG retrofitting of existing vessels is an additional problem to be carefully considered.
What might the risks be of not considering LNG especially for sensitive ecosystems?
On the other end LNG is an answer to reduce the impact of pollutant such as NOx and SOx in the environment, pollutant that have been recognized at international level as responsible of eutrophication, acid rains and health problems. In additon the particulate resulting from the combustion of marine fuel oil may damage especially sensitive ecosystems:
Black Carbon
• not healthy for human being
• directly absorb energy when suspended in the atmosphere
• cause ice and snow melting when deposited
Research studies show that black carbon plays a role second only to carbon dioxide in climate change. LNG minimize the emission of black carbon too.
How a decision to build an LNG vessel affects the second hand values of the ship in the future?
Being the infrastructure not fully available all over the world, this problem is to be considered for long term analysis, in the near future LNG vessels will be dedicated to routes where LNG bunkering facilities will be available.
The crucial role of a classification society in LNG projects.
Every time a new rule is developed by the legislator, the R.O. role becomes crucial to ensure a safe, correct and in line with the rule / law philosophy application of the relevant principles and requirements. Such principles and requirements are to be declined in the details of the various technique the industry propose to be compliant, ensuring uniform interpretation and application too.
Is there any hesitation of many shipowners and charterers to move toward LNG-fuelled propulsion for new builds?
As already pointed out in 1, we feel that the financial issues and the logistic issues are causing hesitation of many shipowners and charterers to move toward LNG-fuelled propulsion for new builds
A comparison between Lng and Scrubbers.
We see LNG the solution for the future, while the scrubber could be the solution for the next years: many owners are going to retrofit their vessels installing scrubbers; very few have made the choice to retrofit an existing ship to LNG. An important parameter for the decision to proceed to such retrofits would be mainly the amount of time that a vessel is operating in ECA areas and of course such an investment depends on the residual life and value of the vessel under concern. An extension of ECA areas will change more dramatically the scene while Europe and the Mediterranean could be crucial areas where retrofits will be considered and all involved stakeholders need to be prepared on time.
*Spyridon Zolotas is RINA area manager Greece & Cyprus |
| |
|
|
|
