LNG study shows emissions progress
The study found LNG can deliver up to 29% tank-to-wake emissions reductions compared with 0.1% marine gas oil, marking an improvement of up to 13% on SGMF’s previous 2022 analysis. The gains are largely attributed to ongoing efforts to reduce methane slip across engine technologies.
Overall well-to-wake emissions reductions were calculated at up to 25%, supported by well-to-tank improvements of up to 9% compared with the organisation’s first LNG study in 2019.
“Shipowners making decisions on future fuel pathways must rely on independent, fact-based full well-to-wake data,” said Mark Bell, managing director of SGMF. “We place high value on rigorous independent studies to support safe and sustainable decarbonisation across the maritime industry.”
The assessment incorporates data from a wide range of stakeholders and evaluates multiple fuel pathways, reflecting differing carbon intensities. It also considers performance across various engine types, including medium-speed four-stroke and low-speed two-stroke engines.
Emma Scheiris, deputy director-environment at INTERTANKO, said transparency is critical for operators. “Independent and transparent life cycle assessments are essential for tanker owners and operators,” she said. “This study provides a structured framework to evaluate environmental impact and supports informed decarbonisation strategies.”
SGMF noted that LCAs represent a snapshot in time and must be updated regularly to reflect rapid technological progress in alternative fuels.
Building on its LNG work, the organisation plans to publish its first methanol LCA in mid-2026, following its ammonia study in 2024.
