• Safetytech Accelerator’s Methane Abatement in Maritime Innovation Initiative (MAMII) celebrates one year anniversary at Gastech 2023 in Singapore.
  • Initiative announces Japanese shipping company NYK Line and Malaysia’s leading shipping line MISC as new members.
  • Methane measurement certification company MiQ also joins, as membership more than doubles from 7 to 16.
  • MAMII leaders and members call for stronger global standards on measurement.

The Methane Abatement in Maritime Innovation Initiative (MAMII) more than doubled its membership in its first 12 months, it announced at Gastech 2023 in Singapore.

MAMII also confirmed three new members of its collective of shipping leaders aiming to reduce the environmental implications of methane slip from Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) – widely understood to be an environmentally superior maritime fuel.

MiQ, a methane measurement certification company, Japanese shipping company NYK Line, and the leading international shipping line of Malaysia, MISC, all joined.

LNG generates less carbon dioxide (CO2), and emits less nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, and particulate matter, for the same propulsion power as traditional fuels. But the environmental benefits of using LNG are lessened by unburned methane passing through the combustion process (methane slip) and into the atmosphere, where it has a significant warming effect.

Under the guidance of Safetytech Accelerator, MAMII was established on September 6th, 2022, and has experienced substantial growth in its inaugural year, from seven initial members to 16 today.

In its first year the initiative has produced a methane strategy landscape report for all partners, covering methane regulatory requirements, ‘Well to Tank’ and ‘Tank to Wake’ analysis, and cost benefit analysis. It also examined more than 150 technology companies to create an ecosystem of 27 companies covering methane capture, measurement, and abatement, of which 13 are actively engaged with MAMII partners.

However, speaking at Gastech, leaders of the initiative emphasised that the technology ecosystem for methane measurement and abatement still required significant time and investment.

Steve Price, MAMII Programme Director, said:

“The accomplishments of MAMII’s first year are testament to the maritime industry’s dedication to reducing its methane footprint.

“There is technology available today that can monitor and mitigate methane leaks onboard an LNG fuelled ship. Now, a common standard is critical to enable a unified approach to quantifying, capturing, and eradicating methane.

“With the right technology and the right monitoring of well to tank, the benefits of LNG over fuel oil can continue to be reaped, while the industry develops the infrastructure required for alternative fuels such as Ammonia and Hydrogen.”

MAMII will release a comprehensive progress report in January 2024, which will pinpoint further actionable steps for the industry to tackle the methane challenge.