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The historically signi? cant TOTE Ship under construct on at NASSCO late last year.

Photo: Greg Trauthwein veloped rules for use in classifying LNG- importer to an exporter of LNG. This fueled vessels. The IMO is close to issu- has lowered the cost of natural gas to the ing its code for LNG-fueled vessels (the point that it is less expensive, per BTU,

IGF Code). Much of this work has been than diesel.

based on the successful use of LNG as a marine fuel in Norway and other northern Conclusion

European nations. On 17 January 1955, Commander Eu- gene P. Wilkinson, USN, the ? rst Com-

Drivers manding Of? cer of USS Nautilus (SSN

There are two major drivers in this 571) signaled the memorable and historic seemingly rapid conversion to LNG pro- message “Underway on nuclear power.” pulsion. First, air emission regulations The event initialed a major change in the for vessels operating in most waters of United States Navy and elsewhere. Un- the United States and Canada have been derway on LNG has an opportunity to signi? cantly tightened. Allowable emis- signal an equally signi? cant change in sions of sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen the merchant marine on the United States oxides (NOx), and particulate matter and Canada.

(PM) have been reduced. Use of LNG rather than convention marine fuels such

The Author as diesel offer major reductions in these emissions, eliminating the need for use

Dennis L. Bryant is with Maritime Regu- of such measures as selective catalytic latory Consulting, and a regular contribu- reduction. Second, due in large part to tor to Maritime Reporter & Engineering increased use of horizontal drilling and

News as well as online at MaritimePro- fracking, the amount of natural gas avail- fessional.com. able on the market in North America has t: 1 352 692 5493 skyrocketed. In a few short years, the e: [email protected]

United States has moved from being an www.marinelink.com 21

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