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‘Inevitable that LNG will be the primary fuel source for marine transport’: Peter Livanos

Shipping industry giants debated the future of LNG Shipping at ABS’ panel discussion held at the start of Posidonia 2018 yesterday.

Chairman and CEO of Angelicoussis Shipping Group John Angelicoussis, executive chairman of Gaslog Peter Livanos, chairman of Dynacom George Procopiou and chairman emeritus of Poten and Partners Michael Tusiani joined ABS chairman Christopher Wiernicki for a two-hour discussion: The Future of LNG Shipping: What Matters Most? held at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center.

The exclusively-assembled panelists offered keen insights on a wide range of issues from the business case for investing in LNG, to the impact of shale gas, the prospects for charter and spot rates and future technological trends.

“What we heard today is that LNG has a bright future, and this came directly from the owners and operators who have a decisive role in delivering that future,” said Wiernicki.

Michael Tusiani opened the discussion stating: “The LNG shipping market has evolved as the value and size of the trade has increased. Larger vessels are now the standard, charterers are moving toward shorter-term periods and the spot market is growing. New owners are moving into the sector, so the question is how much experience will matter to charterers and will they be willing to pay for it.”

John Angelicoussis said: “LNG was an antiquated industry until 2005: what other sector used steam this century? We were a very traditional industry that got better very quickly. Now we have reached a plateau, but the new projects will continue. The gas demand is increasing; there may be a supply/demand mismatch in the short term, but more vessels will be needed than we think.”

Peter Livanos maintained: “It is inevitable that LNG will be the primary fuel source for marine transport. We need to address the lifecycle of existing assets and bunkering infrastructure which is acting as a brake on adoption, but this should accelerate. The train has left the station and cannot be stopped.”

George Procopiou was similarly bullish on gas prospects, telling delegates: “The LNG shipping business is going through an evolution which is tracking the growth of the commodity and the services around it are becoming commoditised. Natural gas is becoming much more widely appreciated and used; we are in a macro growth trend, it will be one of the main energy sources of the future.”

Splash will be reporting from across the many Posidonia-related events all week.

 

Sam Chambers

Starting out with the Informa Group in 2000 in Hong Kong, Sam Chambers became editor of Maritime Asia magazine as well as East Asia Editor for the world’s oldest newspaper, Lloyd’s List. In 2005 he pursued a freelance career and wrote for a variety of titles including taking on the role of Asia Editor at Seatrade magazine and China correspondent for Supply Chain Asia. His work has also appeared in The Economist, The New York Times, The Sunday Times and The International Herald Tribune.
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