The ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles have released a comprehensive Clean Marine Fuel Feasibility Assessment identifying the most promising alternative marine fuels for oceangoing vessels calling at the nation’s busiest port complex, conducted as part of their joint Green Shipping Corridor efforts.
The study examined which fuels are most likely to be adopted by the shipping industry, how much demand could develop locally and what infrastructure would be required to support their adoption.
The assessment found that liquefied natural gas and methanol are the two most viable clean marine fuels for the near and medium term.
With approximately 4,000 vessels calling at San Pedro Bay ports annually, oceangoing ships represent the largest single source of emissions in the complex and are central to Clean Air Action Plan goals.
By 2030, annual demand at the two ports could reach approximately 65,000 to 115,000 metric tonnes of LNG and 64,000 to 250,000 metric tonnes of methanol, depending on market conditions and vessel deployment.
The study found that much of the storage and distribution infrastructure needed for early methanol fuelling is already available or adaptable, reducing the need for major initial investment.
For LNG, the assessment recommends focusing on existing ship-to-ship fuelling methods rather than constructing major new storage facilities.
The study also found that shipping lines are investing in a variety of fuel technologies rather than converging on a single alternative to conventional marine fuel, with fuel costs, shipping line commitments and regulatory requirements the key determinants of adoption pace.
The assessment recommends a phased approach encompassing incentives for early methanol use, pilot fuelling projects, utilisation of existing storage facilities and collaboration with regulatory agencies on safety and permitting requirements.
The findings will inform a joint Request for Proposal anticipated by the end of the year seeking proposals to demonstrate alternative fuel bunkering capabilities in San Pedro Bay, and will guide future planning with shipping lines, fuel suppliers, terminal operators and government agencies.
