The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) has announced the launch of FUMES 2 (Fugitive and Unburned Methane Emissions from Ships), a follow-up to a first study which measured methane emissions from ships fuelled by liquefied natural gas (LNG) under real-world conditions.
This next two-year research initiative brings together an international consortium including Explicit ApS, 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 1 project focused on quantifying methane slip from four-stroke marine engines. FUMES 2 will expand the scope to include methane emissions from two-stroke LNG engines, onboard fugitive emissions, and emissions generated during LNG cargo handling operations. The project will use a mix of onboard sensors and drone-based technology.
The study will include onboard measurements of methane slip from at least five engines, focusing on two-stroke engines, as well as measurements of fugitive methane emissions from fuel tanks, cargo tanks, and other sources during at least five voyages
The project’s findings will be published in peer-reviewed publications, a public report, and a public presentation. They will be presented to IMO and EU policymakers throughout the project.
‘With the rapid growth of LNG shipping, understanding the full scope of methane emissions is increasingly important for climate policy,’ said Dr Bryan Comer, Marine Program Director at the ICCT.
‘FUMES 2 will generate the most comprehensive dataset yet of real-world methane emissions from using and transporting LNG.’
Image: Shutterstock