French companies CMA CGM and Engie on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding to work on promoting LNG as fuel for future container vessels.
The two companies have agreed to conduct a joint technical and economic study on the development of engineering specifications for a bunkering vessel adapted to LNG-fueled container ships, so as to improve over time the logistics chain necessary to fueling this type of vessels, thus promoting their deployment.
The use of liquefied natural gas as a marine fuel is set for expansion the two companies believe.CMA CGM to enter research programs to design large capacity container ships, according to the company’s statement.
The agreement rounds out two research programs undertaken by CMA CGM since 2011 to design large capacity container ships, according to the company’s statement.
The first program is on the development of dual-fuel large capacity container ship with propulsion system capable of running on LNG and fuel oil, while the second project aims at designing a large capacity container-ship using a combined gas and steam turbine system.
The second project, named the “PERFECt” project, was launched in 2015 in partnership with DNV GL, GTT, ABB, Caterpillar, and OMT.
Engie, on the other hand, is expected to take delivery of its first LNG bunkering vessel, ordered in cooperation with Mitsubishi Corporation and NYK of Japan, in 2017. The vessel will operate from the Belgian port of Zeebrugge providing LNG supply for the maritime sector.