Maritime services company, Tote is to launch the world’s first LNG-powered containership at General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego, California on April 18, 2015.
PTI previously reported that the Port of Rotterdam is to construct a break-bulk facility at its Maasvlakte site in order to facilitate LNG trade.
As reported by LNG industry, the launch is part of a two-ship contract and, once completed, the ship will be the largest dry cargo ships to be powered by LNG.
There have been concerns that the switch to LNG will incur around US$100bn-a-year in higher fuel costs for the world’s shipping industry, as a result of the recent 0.5% sulphur cap imposed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
This is further exacerbated by the increase in debt that has occurred as a result of the financial crisis of 2008 and is now threatening the shipping industry with bankruptcy.
