Liquefied natural gas as a marine fuel in Australia: developing a conceptual framework for strategic decision-making

When it comes to shipping large volumes of cargo over long distances, commercial shipping is the most efficient and cleanest mode of transport in terms of emissions. However, the inherently low-grade, high sulphur content fuel oils used in shipping are responsible for the emission of carbon dioxide (CO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NO_X), sulphur dioxide (SO₂), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), black carbon (BC) and/or particulate organic matter (PM). According to recent studies, maritime industry accounts for approximately 2.2 percent and 2.1 percent of global CO₂ and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions respectively. Although a minor fraction of total global CO₂ emissions, international shipping was responsible for 938 tonnes of CO₂ emissions in 2012, and that figure is expected to increase by as much as 250 percent in 2050.