better understand methane emissions from LNG ships

The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) announced the launch of FUMES 2, a new research program aimed at measuring methane emissions from ships fueled by liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Further study

Spread over two years, the “Fugitive and Unburned Methane Emissions from Ships Part 2” (FUMES 2) program is an extension of a first program whose conclusions were submitted in January 2024.

FUMES 2 brings together a consortium made up of several organizations including the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Queen Mary University of London, and the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping (MMMCZCS). The FUMES 2 project aims to deepen the understanding of methane emissions from ships fueled with liquefied natural gas (LNG) by broadening the scope of the study.

Measuring the methane slip of two-stroke engines

The “methane slip” refers to the unburned methane that escapes from engines during the combustion of LNG. While the first phase of the FUMES project focused on four-stroke engines, FUMES 2 will focus on two-stroke engines, commonly used for the propulsion of large cargo ships.
Measurements will be carried out on board at least five ships equipped with these engines, in order to precisely quantify methane emissions and assess their environmental impact.

Assessment of fugitive emissions on board

Potentially a significant source of greenhouse gases, fugitive emissions arise from unintentional methane leaks from fuel tanks, cargo tanks, vents, boil-off gas, and air conditioning units. gas combustion. FUMES 2 plans to measure these emissions during at least five trips, covering a variety of uses in real operating conditions. This approach will help to better understand the extent of non-combustion-related methane leaks and identify potential sources of losses on board ships.

Using drones to measure emissions during LNG handling operations
LNG handling operations, particularly during the loading and unloading phases in LNG terminals, can be significant sources of methane emissions.

FUMES 2 will use drones equipped with specialized sensors to measure methane emissions during at least 20 such operations. The drones will be deployed in specific trajectories to create a “flow barrier” to accurately quantify total emissions during these operations.

Informing future regulations

« This research is timely as the European Union (EU) prepares to implement its FuelEU maritime regulation in 2025 and integrates maritime transport into its emissions trading system, emissions from methane to be covered from 2026. In addition, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is finalizing its own greenhouse gas fuel standard and economic measure, both of which are expected to be implemented in 2027 » underlines the ICCT in a press release.