{"id":2,"date":"2024-10-23T22:30:07","date_gmt":"2024-10-23T22:30:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/clearseas.org\/lng-new\/?page_id=2"},"modified":"2025-08-18T13:48:20","modified_gmt":"2025-08-18T20:48:20","slug":"sample-page","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/clearseas.org\/lng\/","title":{"rendered":"LNG & Marine Shipping"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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LNG & Marine Shipping<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

#clearfacts #LNG #marinesafety<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Worldwide, the demand for natural gas is increasing. As a result, a number of liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminals are proposed or in progress in Canada. Both the amount of LNG transported by ship and the number of ships fuelled by LNG are expected to increase in Canadian waters.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although the transport and use of LNG by ship are not without risks, measures taken to reduce those risks have resulted in the safe transport of LNG by ship for the past sixty years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This site\u2019s purpose is to share objective information about the use of LNG as a cargo and fuel source for the marine shipping industry \u2013 including the benefits and risks of LNG use and carriage, and what\u2019s being done to reduce those risks \u2013 and to encourage informed conversations about these issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This site was created by Clear Seas Centre for Responsible Marine Shipping<\/a>, an independent research centre that supports safe and sustainable marine shipping in Canada.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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About Natural Gas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Natural gas<\/a> is a naturally occurring flammable hydrocarbon used extensively as a fuel.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once extracted from the ground, natural gas is processed to remove components such as:[1]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Hydrogen Sulphide<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Nitrogen<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Carbon Dioxide<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Water<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Butane<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Ethane<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Propane<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Learn more about natural gas exploration and production in Canada<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Refined natural gas, which is mainly methane, is transported by pipeline to population centres for industrial, commercial and residential use, primarily:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Electricity<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Transportation<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Cooling<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Heating<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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For transport by ship, natural gas must first be cooled to a liquid to significantly reduce its volume. Known as LNG, it requires 600 times less space while kept at -160\u00b0C[3]<\/a><\/sup> and near atmospheric pressure[4]<\/a><\/sup> for efficient transport over long distances.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Natural Gas Emissions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Natural gas emits significantly fewer air pollutants than most other fuels and is non-corrosive and non-toxic.<\/strong>[5]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natural gas is viewed by many as an abundant, cost-effective and cleaner fuel and is expected to overtake coal and become the second leading source of energy worldwide \u2013 behind oil \u2013 by 2040.[6]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common Pollutants: SOx<\/sub>, NOx<\/sub> and Particulate Matter<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Compared to conventional fuels such as coal, heavy fuel oil, diesel and gasoline, the combustion of natural gas produces 85-90% less sulphur oxides (SOx<\/sub>) and particulate matter and 35-85% less nitrogen oxides (NOx<\/sub>), depending on engine type.[7][8]<\/a><\/sup> With increasingly strict air pollution regulations in effect in many areas around the world, replacing other fuels with LNG will improve air quality and reduce harm to human health and the environment<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greenhouse Gas Emissions<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Estimates of the potential reduction in climate change effects by adopting natural gas as a fuel vary widely. Determining the overall impact on climate change requires consideration of the various greenhouse gases released throughout the supply chain, from natural gas’s extraction from the ground to its combustion in an engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When burned, natural gas produces an average of 15% to 29% less carbon dioxide than conventional fuels.[9][10]<\/a><\/sup> The actual value is dependent on the source of the gas and the conventional fuel being compared. For example, natural gas produces approximately half as much carbon dioxide as coal does during combustion.[11]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These apparent benefits of natural gas combustion are reduced by the impacts of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Lifecycle emissions<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Different methods to extract, process and transport natural gas produce different amounts of carbon dioxide.[12]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Methane slip<\/strong><\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Releasing natural gas (methane) inadvertently into the atmosphere through leaks during handling or transport or due to incomplete combustion has up to 25 times the climate warming effect of carbon dioxide.[13]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

For instance, the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of LNG are estimated to be 6% to 10% less than emissions from heavy fuel oil, which is currently the most commonly used shipping fuel.[14]<\/sup><\/a> Some studies report even less or no benefit, depending on the amount of methane slip that occurs. The range depends on efficiencies in production, transport and handling to reach the end user, and the types and efficiencies of ship engines used. By using efficient engines, careful LNG transfer procedures, and education and training, the amount of methane slip that occurs during ship refuelling and operating can be significantly reduced, increasing the benefit from using LNG as a marine fuel.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Fuel lifecycle climate warming impact<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fuel Lifecycle<\/a>Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n

When comparing the CO2<\/sub>-equivalent emissions of different fuels per 1 tonne of cargo transported 1 km by ship, the total climate warming impact of LNG exceeds that of heavy fuel oil when the amount of methane slip from LNG use is greater than approximately 1% of the volume of LNG.[15]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Research is underway<\/a> to reduce the climate change impacts of natural gas use by identifying ways to prevent methane slip and also integrating renewable gas sources such as biomass into the supply.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Natural Gas in Canada<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Canada was the fourth largest producer of natural gas in the world with 5% of global production in 2017.[16]<\/sup><\/a> Approximately half of Canadian natural gas is exported by pipeline within North America, for a net value of $6.7 billion in 2017.[17]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In response to the increasing demand for natural gas around the world, a number of LNG export terminals have been proposed in Canada to move natural gas to overseas markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A total of 18 LNG export facilities<\/a> have been proposed in Canada:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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British Columbia<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Quebec<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Nova Scotia<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Combined, these terminals have a total proposed export capacity of 87.5 million cubic metres per year of LNG.[18]<\/a><\/sup> Transporting this volume of LNG to overseas markets would require LNG carriers to make approximately 330 trips per year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Approximately<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

330<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

LNG Carrier Trips<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Canada has two LNG facilities currently in operation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Canaport LNG<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Canaport LNG at the Port of Saint John, New Brunswick has been importing LNG from overseas, storing it, and returning it to natural gas to supply the North American pipeline grid since 2009.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Tilbury LNG<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Tilbury LNG plant in Delta, British Columbia has been liquefying natural gas since 1971 for local use. A recent expansion and supply agreement has made Tilbury LNG the first facility regularly exporting LNG to China, using shipping containers to transport the LNG.[19]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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LNG as a Marine Cargo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The number of LNG carriers in operation is increasing with over 525 vessels worldwide in 2018. A single LNG carrier can transport enough energy to heat the homes of approximately half the population of Saint John, New Brunswick for a year.<\/strong>[21][22]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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LNG Carrier<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Saint John, New Brunswick<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Transporting natural gas as a marine cargo requires a number of steps:<\/strong>[23]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

LNG Lifecycle<\/a>Download<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Gas Field<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Gas is extracted from the ground and processed to remove impurities and other gases<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Pipeline<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Gas is transported to population centres and export terminals<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Liquefaction Facility<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Gas is cooled to -160\u00baC to condense into 600 times less space<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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LNG Storage Tank<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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LNG is kept liquid in an insulated tank near atmospheric pressure until it can be loaded on a ship<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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LNG Carrier<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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LNG is kept liquid in insulated tanks near atmospheric pressure with no further cooling needed during transport<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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LNG Storage Tank<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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LNG is kept liquid in an insulated tank near atmospheric pressure until it is needed as a gas<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Regasification Facility<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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LNG is converted back to gas using a heat exchanger<\/a>, in a process called regasification<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Pipeline<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Gas is transported from import terminals to population centres<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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End User<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Gas is used to cook food, heat and cool homes, generate electricity, and power vehicles<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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LNG Carriers<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In January 1959, the world’s first LNG carrier \u2013 aptly named the Methane Pioneer<\/em> \u2013 transported approximately 5,090 cubic metres of LNG from Lake Charles, Louisiana to the United Kingdom.[24]<\/a><\/sup> Since then, LNG carriers have undergone a 50-fold increase in capacity \u2013 the largest LNG carrier today can transport 265,000 cubic metres of LNG.[25]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both rectangular and spherical tanks are commonly used in LNG carriers today:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LNG Carriers<\/a>Download<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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LNG carriers are designed and constructed with many safety features including insulated tanks and double hull structures. In the past 60 years of LNG carriage, there have been some minor LNG spills during cargo loading and unloading operations[26]<\/a><\/sup>, but no incidents resulting in a spill of LNG from a ship while in transit have been reported.[27]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other safety mechanisms to prevent LNG spills include:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n