Methane At Sea: Finding The Invisible Climate Killer, So-Called “Green” (LNG) Ships

From:Guest Contributor

Photo explanation：Infrared images show unburned methane – a potent greenhouse gas – being released from supposedly ‘green’ LNG ships, a damning new investigation by Transport & Environment (T&E) shows. European politicians are playing with fire in their support for LNG, says T&E, with methane over 80 times more climate warming than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period.

T&E’s Methane at Sea investigation into so-called “green” liquid natural gas (LNG) ships uncovers significant amounts of invisible methane being released into the atmosphere. Shipping is a huge source of carbon emissions and the switch to clean fuels is slow. Traditional marine (bunker) oil is the dirtiest fuel there is and shipping is responsible for roughly the same amount of global emissions as flying.

The shipping industry along with oil and gas companies, as well as many European politicians, are pushing for liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a "cleaner" alternative to traditional fuels.

On paper, LNG-powered ships emit fewer emissions. No dark fog. But invisible to the naked eye, they hold a dirty secret: methane. In fact, the LNG used by about 80% of ships in Europe today has a worse climate impact than the fuel they replace. Because the temperature of this potent gas released is more than 80 times that of carbon dioxide.

A major problem is that throughout the natural gas supply chain, unburned methane leaks and slips into the atmosphere, accelerating the rate at which the planet warms.

In the first investigation of its kind, T&E, with the support of hydrocarbon experts, set out at sea to investigate methane leaks from ships. Surveys show that large amounts of unburned methane are released into the atmosphere, with surprising effects on the climate. Huge amounts of unburned hydrocarbon emissions are being released into the atmosphere.

According to CMA CGM, its LNG ships enable a significant reduction in CO2 emissions per container, and the company is investing heavily in LNG. Its website claims, “LNG is the best solution currently available to reduce the environmental impact of shipping.”

There is no mention in any of its communication of methane, or how much methane typically slips from its vessels. Either the company is guilty of blatant greenwashing, or, more worryingly, is unaware of the climate damage it is causing.