MechChem Africa January-February 2024

⎪ Innovative engineering ⎪

Left: A Kanfer LNG bunkering vessel. Oceania Marine Energy is now developing a ship-to-ship LNG marine fuel bunkering service capability for use at Port Hedland. Right: A conventional bulk ore carrier being loaded a Port-Hedland-in Western Australia. These will be replaced by an LNG fuelled Newcastlemax ship design

sity LNG bunkering at Port Hedland, along with an ability for offloading carbon dioxide or solid carbon and a variety of monetisation or disposal options. Recognising the complementary aspects of their respective project interests and business objectives, PCF, Oceania, and RINA have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate in the development of an ‘end-to-end’ low-carbon profile LNG production and marine vessel bunkering capability concept for the port of Port Hedland. Furthermore, RINA’s 209 000 DWT Newcastlemax dry-bulk vessel and fuel system design provide a path to ‘zero emis sions’ for the adoption of LNG as a marine fuel on a 2050 time frame. PCF Managing Director, Robert Malabar comments: “Along with our existing partners Oceania, we are delighted to have formed the new collabora tive relationship with RINA. The partnership can demonstrate an attractive commercial development strategy not only to meet the

immediate needs of IMO 2030 emissions compliance, but also the engineering step change needed to create a practical path to IMO 2050 net-zero emissions objec tives. We know the maritime community is happy with LNG as a marine fuel. We believe the outcome of the studies should provide compelling argument in support of the Western Australian Government’s May 2020 announcement to create an international LNG fuelling hub in the Pilbara.” Oceania managing director, Nick Bentley adds: “Oceania, PCF and the new collaboration with RINA herald the begin ning of a new decarbonisation initiative in Western Australia, enabling a much-needed lower-carbon fuel source for shipping. The Oceania and PCF collaboration is aimed at providing a supply capability for low-carbon footprint LNG, available for the first time on the routes of Australia to Asia iron ore ship ping fleets. RINA adds to that with new ship and fuel system designs enabling LNG to be viewed as a potential future zero-emissions

marine fuel. “Together we are excited to participate in developing Australia’s pri mary green corridor – supporting significant emission reductions in the short term and in the future – for the maritime trade routes critically important to Western Australia’s economy,” says Bentley. RINA Marine Consulting Executive Vice President, Massimo Volta continues: “The combined knowledge and expertise of PCF, Oceania and RINA will allow a comprehen sive approach to the project, rather than to the single phases, that will maximise the emissions reduction effort. The shipping industry is living in a time of uncertainty that still requires immediate investments. Port Hedland is the world's biggest iron ore export point and providing such a system with a solution that allows a more flexible transition while achieving IMO 2050 tar gets with an existing fuel will be a massive contribution to the path to West Australia green corridor.” www.rina.org/en

Key outcomes from the 2023 IMO Strategy on reducing GHG emissions from ships The 2023 IMO GHG Strategy represents the continuation of work by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to address greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from inter national shipping. ping to decline due to reduced CO 2 missions (per transport work) by an average, across international shipping, of at least 40% by 2030, compared to 2008. • Uptake of zero or near-zero GHG emis • Indicative checkpoints to reach net zero GHG emissions from international shipping include: • A reduction in the total annual GHG

emissions from international shipping by at least 20%, striving for 30%, by 2030, compared to 2008. • To reduce the total annual GHG emis sions from international shipping by at least 70%, striving for 80%, by 2040, compared to 2008. The mid-term GHG reduction measures should effectively promote the energy transi tion of shipping and provide the world fleet a needed incentive, while contributing to a level playing field and a just and equitable transition. www.imo.org/en

The IMO remains committed to reducing GHG emissions from international shipping and, as a matter of urgency, aims to phase them out as soon as possible, while promot ing a just and equitable transition. Levels of ambition directing the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy are as follows: • Carbon intensity of shipping to decline through further improvement of the energy efficiency for new ships and strengthening the energy efficiency design requirements for ships. • Carbon intensity of international ship

sion technologies, fuels and/or energy sources to increase: by at least 5%, and striving for 10%, of the energy used by international shipping by 2030. • GHG emissions from international ship ping to peak as soon as possible and to reach net-zero by, around or close to 2050 – considering different national circumstances – whilst pursuing efforts towards phasing them out as called for in the long-term temperature goal set out in Article 2 of the Paris Agreement.

January-February 2024 • MechChem Africa ¦ 39