The global shipping industry is being misled by the promise of LNG, which fuel optimisation company Fuelre4m says is being driven by commercial rather than environmental, motives, from shipyards chasing newbuild orders to energy companies offloading gas reserves.
This is according to Fuelre4m CEO Rob Mortimer, who said: “It’s not a transition fuel, it’s a transition business model. Too many players are profiting from LNG’s green image while ignoring the science. Methane slip has risen 180% since 2016 and methane is over 80 times more potent than CO₂. You can’t rebrand physics. LNG ultimately fails the climate test.”
Mortimer continued: “Rather than asking whether LNG reduces emissions, shipowners and regulators should ask who benefits when LNG is promoted as the solution? Until scalable, proven zero-carbon alternatives exist, the responsible path is optimisation: measure what you burn, remove waste and emissions from existing systems, and only then transition to alternative fuels based on independent evidence, which we still don’t have.”
Fuelre4m warns the industry is on course for stranded assets and wasted capital, with owners facing the risk of expensive retrofits and declining vessel values. Instead of betting on unproven fuels, Fuelre4m is calling for rigorous lifecycle measurement, accountability, and optimisation of existing fuel.
Mortimer added: “We’re locking ourselves into another false promise while the IMO looks the other way. It’s time for honesty, not hype. Measure what you burn, cut waste, and demand proof before you call it progress. The responsible path starts with real data — not marketing slogans.”
Fuelre4m is an independent provider of fuel optimisation, emissions measurement and advisory services for the maritime sector. The company says that it helps shipowners, managers and charterers understand the true climate and commercial performance of fuel choices and implement practical steps to reduce emissions across operations.
While it is acknowledged that methane slip is an unfortunate result of burning LNG fuel, particularly in older designs of four-stroke and low-pressure Otto-cycle two stroke engines, Fuelre4m’s argument is countered by many in the industry, who consider that engine technology has made considerable strides in reducing the GHG effect due to emissions of unburned methane, while methane slip is significantly lower for the high-pressure Diesel-cycle two strokes commonly found in larger vessels.
Image: Fuelre4m founder and MD Rob Mortimer (source: Fuelre4m)
