San Pedro Bay identifies LNG and methanol as near-term priorities

The ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles have released a comprehensive Clean Marine Fuel Feasibility Assessment identifying the most promising alternative marine fuels for oceangoing vessels calling at the nation’s busiest port complex, conducted as part of their joint Green Shipping Corridor efforts. The study examined which fuels are most likely to be adopted by the shipping industry, how much demand could develop locally and what infrastructure would be required to support their adoption. The assessment found that liquefied natural gas and methanol are the two most viable clean marine fuels for the near and medium term. With approximately 4,000 vessels calling at San Pedro Bay ports annually, oceangoing ships represent the largest single source of emissions in the complex and are central to Clean Air Action Plan goals. By 2030, annual demand at the two ports could reach approximately 65,000 to 115,000 metric tonnes of LNG and 64,000 to 250,000 metric tonnes of methanol, depending on market conditions and vessel deployment.