Technology Innovators RINA and ROTOBOOST join SEA-LNG
Coalition will benefit from two organisations leading efforts to cut emissions from LNG
London, UK – 03 July 2024: RINA, a world-leading inspection, certification and consulting engineering multinational and ROTOBOOST, a global hydrogen technology company, have joined the SEA-LNG coalition – further boosting SEA-LNG’s global reach and expertise across the LNG value chain.
RINA plays a significant role in the LNG industry. Previously, it has carried out technology qualification, surveying during construction and classification of the first offshore Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU). RINA has also classified the world’s first LNG-fuelled cruise ship and participated in various international research studies on using LNG as a marine fuel.
RINA recently announced a contract for the design, approval and construction supervision of the fourth and fifth Excel-class cruise ships for SEA-LNG member Carnival, with all vessels powered by LNG. In addition, a RINA-led study reveals that Well-to-Wake emissions in the Pilbara-to-Asia iron ore export trade route can be reduced by over 90% by 2050 through the use of LNG.
ROTOBOOST, a global hydrogen technology company, has developed a unique pre-combustion carbon removal system based on Thermo-Catalytic Decomposition (TCD). This enables decarbonisation by targeting carbon reduction at its source. The technology can be equipped onboard vessels and can contribute to direct methane and carbon dioxide abatement in scenarios such as converting boil-off gas to hydrogen and using it as drop-in fuel in engines to minimise methane slip on LNG-fuelled vessels. SEA-LNG’s latest fact sheet seeks to dispel the myths about methane slip.
Peter Keller, SEA-LNG chairman, commented: “The shipping industry’s decarbonisation debate is moving from theoretical discussions about what might work in the long-term future to what is practical and realistic right now. RINA and ROTOBOOST provide expertise, experience, and technological solutions that further unlock the potential of LNG and its pathway as the leading alternative marine fuel for the shipping industry today. Like other members, they are actively demonstrating how we can chart a pragmatic course to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from marine fuels through developments in liquefied biomethane and e-methane. These combined efforts are highlighted in our fact sheets, with the latest on methane slip published today.”
Antonios Trakakis, Greece Marine Technical Support Director, RINA, said: “SEA-LNG is the logical next step for our determination to enable the sector to reach its decarbonisation goals. The need to transition away from fossil fuels is widely recognised. However, not all fuels are created equal. The combustion of LNG produces fewer air pollutants compared to liquid fuels and offers significant near-term emissions reductions. LNG can be gradually replaced by bio-LNG and eventually e-LNG or even be reformed to produce hydrogen onboard. The H2 produced can then be used directly as fuel, without the need to store, and its combustion with LNG can drastically reduce fugitive methane emission.”
Kaisa Nikulainen, CEO, ROTOBOOST, said: “Technology will be critical in meeting the shipping industry’s decarbonisation challenge. In combination with LNG as a marine fuel, our solution can further boost the emissions reduction performance of the fuel with direct methane and carbon dioxide abatement by converting LNG or boil-off gas into hydrogen and solid carbon and using it as blend in fuel for downstream users such as engines or boilers. It’s clear that with SEA-LNG, we are joining a collective that spans the global LNG marine fuel value chain and actively enabling the transition to net-zero, starting right now.”
LNG background
Sphera’s 2nd Life Cycle GHG Emission Study on the use of LNG as marine fuel, showed conventional LNG can reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared with very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) by up to 23% on a full lifecycle, well-to-wake basis inclusive of methane slip and upstream methane emissions. This study was based on primary data from all major marine engine manufacturers, was peer-reviewed by independent academics, and is widely recognised as the most definitive analysis to date of LNG marine fuel emissions.
Clarksons research states 188 ports offer LNG bunkering services, with a further 82 bunkering locations decided and implementing plans or under active discussion. The number of LNG bunker vessels has grown to 50 with a further 34 on order or under discussion. 2023 has seen new LNG bunkering vessels coming into operation in Japan, Korea, Singapore, the US East Coast and Gulf of Mexico, NW Europe and the Mediterranean.
About RINA
RINA, leading certification and engineering company, provides a wide range of services across the Energy, Marine, Infrastructure & Mobility, Certification, Industry and Real Estate sectors. In December 2023, alongside the majority shareholder Registro Italiano Navale, Fondo Italiano d’Investimento SGR entered the shareholding structure guiding a pool of co-investors. With revenues in 2023 of 797 million euros, 5,800 employees and 200 offices in 70 countries worldwide, RINA is a member of key international organizations and an important contributor to the development of new legislative standards. www.rina.org
About ROTOBOOST
ROTOBOOST is a global hydrogen technology company. Established in Norway, ROTOBOOST is dedicated to providing affordable and scalable solutions for large-scale carbon reduction through leading-edge Thermo-Catalytic Decomposition (TCD) technology to convert natural gas into hydrogen and solid carbon in various industries. Committed to being a pioneer in low-carbon energy solutions, ROTOBOOST operates with a network of organizations in Norway, Finland, UAE, China and Malaysia, ensuring localized teams and services for clients worldwide.
About SEA-LNG
SEA-LNG is a UK-registered not-for-profit collaborative industry foundation serving the needs of its member organisations committed to furthering the use of LNG as an important, environmentally superior maritime fuel. SEA-LNG has members across the entire LNG value chain including providers of the product, users, engine and asset suppliers, and class societies. SEA-LNG is already recognised as an international leader in LNG matters. Each member organisation commits mutually agreed human resources, data analysis and knowledge sharing in support of SEA-LNG initiatives and activities and financially contributes via a membership fee. SEA-LNG is guided by a board, which is led by chairman Peter Keller, who was elected as Founding Chairman in 2016. For more information, visit https://sea-lng.org/
