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UASC is teaming up with Qatargas, and Shell to explore the development of LNG as a marine fuel in the Middle East region. An MOU was signed at a ceremony attended by Qatargas chief executive officer, Khalid Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, United Arab Shipping Company chief executive, Jorn Hinge and chairman of Qatar Shell Companies, Michiel Kool.
Through this joint relationship the partners will look to develop LNG as propulsion fuel. The MOU envisages LNG supplies for this pioneering initiative to be made available from Qatargas 4, a joint venture between Qatar Petroleum and Shell Gas, with United Arab Shipping Company Line, potentially using the fuel for its recently built container ships. The three partners are committed to continue to work diligently to develop LNG as marine fuel and fulfil their aspirations of supplying merchant vessels with the clean burning fuel before the end of the current decade.
Welcoming the agreement, Jorn Hinge said: “Our new ships are uniquely LNG-ready, meaning once the infrastructure is ready globally, with a quick and cost-efficient retrofit, they can run on LNG and become even more eco-friendly. Many organisations have already included stricter requirements in their tenders and evaluation criteria, meaning only those carriers with optimum environmental credentials will qualify or be shortlists.”
