据世界石油8月23日迪拜报道，由于LNG在满足限制温室气体、硫排放的标准和要求方面的技术优势，因此海运行业对作为常规能源的LNG的需求将继续增长。据船用燃料专家称，明年国际海事组织(IMO)将实施的0.5％的全球硫含量上限规定可能会推动全球将LNG作为船用燃料。

这项新规定一旦于2020年1月1日生效，将对全球多达7万艘船舶产生影响。预计船舶运营商将转向更清洁的燃料，以实现其目标和全球环境承诺。

船舶燃料交易公司(Marine Bunker Exchange AB)主管伊万诺夫(Ivanov)指出，一旦新的海上排放环境法规准备就绪，LNG的可用性和竞争力有可能成为其他重质燃料的主要替代品。

伊万诺夫表示，虽然可以使用不同的技术来遵守空气排放限制，但LNG技术是满足现有和即将到来的对主要排放类型(如硫、氮氧化物、微粒物质和二氧化碳)的要求的唯一选择。LNG可以与馏分燃料进行价格竞争，与其他解决方案不同，在许多情况下，不需要额外的工艺技术。

研究表明，对LNG的需求已经在上升，全球10%以上的船队将由天然气提供动力。中东是LNG的主要来源之一，2018年来自该地区的LNG供应量9400万吨，约占世界供应量的30％，其中阿联酋和阿曼是主要出口国之一。

伊万诺夫进一步解释道，必须持续了解LNG的好处，因为世界范围内对它的了解甚少，包括与之相关的风险，以及如何处理这些风险，例如安全和可靠的物流概念。考虑到一般消费，包括取暖和发电，也越来越多地过渡到天然气。

伊万诺夫称，要作为正常航运或运输连接的燃料，LNG必须按量在固定地点交付。

原文如下：

Cap on sulphur emissions to drive global demand for LNG as shipping fuel

Demand for LNG as a conventional source of energy in the maritime industry will continue to grow because of its technological advantages in meeting the standards and requirements in limiting the emissions of sulphur, a greenhouse gas. According to marine fuel expert Sergey Ivanov, the global sulphur cap of 0.5%, which is set to be implemented by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) next year, could drive the global uptake on LNG as bunker fuel.

The new regulation will have an impact on up to 70,000 ships around the world once it comes into effect on January 1, 2020. Vessel operators are expected to turn to cleaner fuels to meet their targets and global environmental commitments.

Ivanov, director of Marine Bunker Exchange AB, noted LNG’s availability and competitiveness have the potential to lead as a major alternative to other heavy fuels once the new environmental regulation on maritime emissions is in place.

Ivanov said, “While different technologies can be used to comply with air emission limits, LNG technology is the only option that can meet existing and upcoming requirements for the main types of emissions such as sulphur, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and carbon dioxide. LNG can compete price-wise with distillate fuels and, unlike other solutions, in many cases does not require the installation of additional process technology.”

Studies have shown that there is already a rising demand for LNG with more than 10 per cent of the world’s fleet to be powered by natural gas. The Middle East is one of the major sources of LNG, accounting for 94 million tons, or about 30% of the world’s supply coming from the region in 2018, with the UAE and Oman among the leading exporters.

Ivanov further explained that there has to be sustained awareness about the benefits of LNG as it remains less known across the world, including the associated risks with it and how they can be dealt with such as safe and reliable logistical concepts, considering that there is an increasing transition as well to natural gas in general consumption including heating and electricity generation.

Ivanov said, “To serve as a fuel on regular shipping or transport connections, LNG must be delivered where it is needed and when it is needed in the volumes required. It is, therefore, very important to address these matters – to have the necessary competence, knowledge and skills. Decision makers in governments, authorities and companies need to understand the subject of their decision-making and the consequences of the decisions they make when it comes to the application of LNG.”