Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) has applied to join, as a main Partner, the Methane Abatement in Maritime Innovation Initiative (MAMII) which is tasked with reducing methane emissions across the maritime industry, an initiative led by the Lloyd’s Register non-profit subsidiary Safetytech Accelerator.
MAMII was formed in September 2022 and currently 14 companies have joined. MAMII’s aim is to identify, accelerate and advocate technology solutions to measure and manage methane emissions activity in the maritime industry aiming to minimise the environmental impact of methane slip in shipping through collaboration among participating companies, including to survey the institutional and industry regulatory requirements on methane emissions, to explore the current technology and practice landscape for methane monitoring, reporting and verification onboard and for methane abatement onboard and to build on experience and knowledge sharing in the area of the LNG supply chain.
Compared with conventional marine heavy fuel oils, LNG fuel is understood to generate about 25% less CO2. Hence the deployment of LNG fuelled vessels is accelerating as an effective way of contributing now to decarbonisation of ship operations. However, the environmental benefit of using LNG is partially negated due to unburned methane released to the atmosphere (methane slip) in the process of using LNG fuel.
Through its activities in MAMII, MOL aims to minimise the environmental impact of methane slip in shipping whilst aiding to the transition to further CO2 reduction and decarbonisation of LNG-fuelled vessels.
In addition to participating in MAMII, MOL is working with other partners on a technology development project aimed at significantly reducing methane slip on LNG-fuelled vessels by utilising catalysts and improving the engine’s combustion process and the first methane oxidation catalyst system has received Approval in Principle. Factory testing of this process will begin in mid-2023 with sea trials conducted from the second half of 2024 to the end of 2026, verifying the design concept in an actual vessel. MOL is also taking initiatives aimed at early introduction of the use of bio-methane and synthetic-methane for further GHG reduction in LNG-fuelled vessels.
