An environmental lobby group is to call for LNG to be struck from a list of alternative low-carbon fuels at an upcoming IMO meeting about reducing shipping’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The proposal will likely spook a rapidly growing number of shipowners that have ordered LNG-fuelled newbuildings to meet the regulator’s environmental targets on ship emissions.

The Clean Shipping Coalition (CSC) has submitted a technical paper to the IMO stating that LNG’s methane content will accelerate total GHG emissions, despite it having a lower carbon content than heavy fuel oil.