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Monday, 14 July 14
THE END OF THE ERA OF HEAVY FUEL OIL IN MARITIME SHIPPING - ICCT
KNOWLEDGE TO ELEVATE
Since the 1960s, heavy fuel oil (HFO) has been the king of marine fuels. Viscous, dirty, yet inexpensive and widely available, HFO propelled a long period of robust growth in international shipping, which carries over 90% of intercontinental trade by volume each year. For many, it is the lifeblood of the maritime shipping industry.
But HFO’s low price does not reflect its impacts on the environment and human health. The sulfur content of HFO can be up to 35,000 parts per million. It is the reason that maritime shipping accounts for 8% of global emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2), making the industry an important source for acid rain as well as respiratory diseases. In some populous port cities, such as Hong Kong, shipping is the largest single source of SO2 emissions as well as emissions of particulate matter (PM), which are directly tied to the sulfur content of fuel. By one estimate, PM emissions from maritime shipping led to 87,000 premature deaths worldwide in 2012.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO), the governing body of international shipping, has made a decisive effort to diversify the industry away from HFO into cleaner fuels with less harmful effects on the environment and human health. Effective in 2015, ships operated within the Emission Control Areas (ECAs) covering the Economic Exclusive Zone of North America, the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, and the English Channel will begin to use Marine Gas Oil (MGO) with allowable sulfur content up to 1,000 ppm. Starting from 2020, ships sailing outside ECAs will switch to Marine Diesel Oil (MDO) with permitted sulfur content up to 5,000 ppm.*
That tectonic shift also creates openings for a variety of new fuels. Liquefied nature gas (LNG), newly abundant and relatively affordable, is attracting the attention of many shipping companies. Although the lack of infrastructure and the uncertainty of future prices have slowed the “dash to gas,” many expect LNG to establish itself as one of major alternatives to HFO in the future. Lloyds Registry, a shipping classification society, expects LNG to take 11% of the market share in 2030.
Meanwhile, Stena Teknik, a Swedish company, is testing methanol, another natural gas product, but one that requires less storage space in a ship and is relatively easier to handle. While natural gas-based fuels may sometimes offer questionable climate benefits, due to methane leakage concerns, the IMO’s low-sulfur regulation may create needed openings for other zero-sulfur, low-carbon marine fuels. Tests using fuel cells on the Viking Lady, an offshore supply ship, demonstrated promising results.
Wind kites and solar panels have already been installed on numerous ships to supplement marine diesel engines. Even HFO will not completely disappear from the menu of marine fuels. Combined with scrubbers that capture more than 99% of the sulfur from the exhaust gas, HFO will continue to play an important role. Lloyds Registry reckons that HFO will represent about 40% of fuel use by 2030.
The shift to cleaner but pricier low-sulfur fuels is likely to heighten interest in the “fifth fuel”: energy efficiency. Historically, the maritime shipping industry, where energy often accounts for over half of operating costs, has responded to escalating fuel prices with innovative energy-saving strategies. To cite a recent example: in 2008, as fuel prices went through the roof, shipping lines cut their operating speeds by as much as 50%, helping many companies stay afloat amid one of the worst downturns in history. In an analysis of satellite data on ship operations, we’ve estimated that the industry can further slash 100 million ton of fuel use by 2030 through wider implementation of energy-saving measures that were adopted by industry leaders in 2011.
This is in addition to savings of 90 million tons of fuel because of the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), a mandatory program that will require new ships to achieve certain efficiency targets beginning in 2015.
The continued diversification of marine fuels and improvements in energy efficiency have important implications. First and foremost, they may alleviate concerns about the availability of low-sulfur fuels. Figure 1 illustrates one possible scenario, using our forecast on future marine fuel consumption and energy efficiency improvements as well as Lloyds Registry’s estimate of market shares for HFO and LNG. The efficiency improvement of the legacy fleet is the greatest force driving down the need for low-sulfur fuels, equivalent to adding about 110 “negatons” of fuel, or almost 24% of projected demand. HFO combined with scrubbers, EEDI, and distillates (MGO plus MDO) are almost neck and neck, each representing about 20% of fuel use in the chart. LNG is coming of age, with its share doubling between 2020 and 2030. Other fuels, such as renewables, fuel cells, and biofuels, are expected to hold only small market shares in 2030.
Second, the new fuels are on a collision course with IMO safety regulations concerning flashpoint, the temperature at which a fuel can vaporize to form an ignitable mixture in air.
The IMO currently requires marine fuels to have a minimum flashpoint of 60°C. But low-sulfur fuels have a lower flashpoint (50° to 55°C), meaning that they are “off-spec” and cannot be used under the IMO rule. The flashpoint requirement, which went into effect in 1976, was meant to provide a large margin of error to ensure the temperature of the engine room (normally below 45°C) does not exceed the flashpoint in any circumstance. But according to industry heavyweights such as Maersk and BIMCO, modern technologies such as advanced ventilation systems provide an adequate safety margin, and they argue that keeping the flashpoint requirement will cause the industry to miss the opportunity represented by the increased availability of low-sulfur, low-flashpoint fuels. Industry and member states such as the U.S. are urging the IMO to accelerate its consideration of an amendment to the flashpoint requirement.
By: Haifeng Wang / The International Council of Clean Transportation
*Implementation of the requirement is subject to a review of fuel availability to be completed by 2016.
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Sunday, 13 July 14
PANAMAX INDEX GAINS SLIGHTLY THIS WEEK; CAPE INDEX FALLS ALMOST 21.40%
COALspot.com: This week the freight market fell again after gaining last week. The cape index was down almost 21.40 pct and closed at 1465 points.
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Friday, 11 July 14
EUROPE HAS A SUBSTANTIAL SURPLUS IN COAL SUPPLIES; RENEWABLE ENERGIES ARE REDUCING THE FULL-LOAD OPERATING HOURS OF HARD COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS - VDKI
COALspot.com: General conditions for coal-fired power plants must be improved if the energy turnaround is to be a success, said German coal importe ...
Friday, 11 July 14
DR.CIESLIK RE-ELECTED AS CEO OF GERMAN COAL IMPORTER ASSOCIATION (VDKI)
Press Release : Dr Cieslik re-elected as CEO of German Coal Importer Association (VDKi) for the period 2014 – 2018. The German Coal Importer ...
Friday, 11 July 14
PORT OF NEWCASTLE SHIPPED $ 1.031 BILLION WORTH OF 11.744 MILLION TONS OF COAL IN JUNE 2014
COALspot.com: Port of Newcastle has shipped 11,744,396 tons of coal for the month ended 30 June 2014. According to Port’s monthly report, YTD ...
Friday, 11 July 14
UNITED STATE'S MONTHLY COAL OUTPUT FALLS 5.53% IN JUNE
COALspot.com – United States the world's second largest coal producer, produced approximately 18.1 million short tons (mmst) of coal in a ...
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- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Planning Commission, India
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- White Energy Company Limited
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- PTC India Limited - India
- Australian Coal Association
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- The University of Queensland
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
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