Retrofitting existing very large crude carriers (VLCC) to run on LNG as fuel has enormous benefits over alternative options to future-proof the ships from becoming obsolete as new environmental regulations take the stage in 2023, a new study from SEA/LNG claims.

The multi-sector industry coalition compared three scenarios in an investment case study including an LNG retrofit, a scrubber-fitted VLCC running on heavy fuel oil, and a conventional VLCC sailing on very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO). The study did not include the case involving VLCCs opting for slow steaming.