General Dynamics NASSCO has completed bunkering of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for the Perla Del Caribe, a containership powered by LNG.

Upon delivery to TOTE Maritime, the vessel will join sister ship the Isla Bella, one of the world's first LNG-powered containerships, for its trade route between Jacksonville, Fla. and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The ships are part of a fleet of vessels whose owners are opting against heavy fuel oil ahead of new emission regulations that come into effect in 2020.

(Read “Cold Ironing: The Drive to Make Commercial Shipping Cleaner.”)

Under the International Maritime Organization’s MARPOL Annex VI, sulfur content of ships’ emissions will not be permitted to exceed 0.5% in the open sea and as low as 0.1% in designated emission control areas. To comply, ship owners must choose among burning low-sulfur fuel, installation of scrubber systems and use of LNG—the latter seen as an increasingly viable option.

TOTE says its new Marlin-class ships will reduce particulate matter by 99%, sulfur dioxide emissions by 98% and nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide by 71% over the ships it currently operates in Puerto Rico.

Whether LNG will become seriously considered as a major marine fuel will likely depend on the global buildout of the LNG refueling infrastructure. Bunker hubs of Singapore and Rotterdam have developed terminals that will make supply possible in the future. But, according to IHS, the market has yet to see the commitment to dedicated LNG bunkering tankers that will be crucial for supplying such vessels on a widespread basis.

Fuel storage is a second potential obstacle to LNG adoption, as in most instances tanks occupy potentially valuable revenue-generating space. This is evident in the TOTE containership design, in which much of the stern hold capacity is lost due to the tanks’ location.

Much of the stern hold capacity is lost due to the location of the LNG tanks. Image credit: General Dynamics.Nevertheless, as maritime emission regulations tighten, more ship operators will consider LNG as an option. TOTE competitor Crowley, for one, has announced that it has lined up an LNG provider in advance of its receipt of two new LNG-powered combination container and roll-on/roll-off ships, expected to be delivered in 2017.