Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement joins SEA-LNG coalition

August 7, 2024, by Aida Čučuk

Maritime services company Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) has joined SEA-LNG, a multi-sector industry coalition promoting LNG as a marine fuel.

Courtesy of Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM)

SEA-LNG said that BSM brings operational experience to the coalition, noting that the company has more than 100 gas carriers under management, over half of which are LNG carriers. BSM manages close to 30 LNG dual-fuel ships and presently 2 LNG bunker vessels.

According to SEA-LNG, BSM’s safety credentials will also enhance the coalition’s combined skillset as all its vessels under management undergo reviews and audits from Oil Companies International Marine Forum’s (OCIMF) Tanker Management and Self-Assessment (TMSA) to ensure full compliance with International Safety Management (ISM) requirements.

In regard to the training standards for seafarers and shoreside crew to ensure safe and efficient vessel operation, it is worth mentioning that BSM has its own dedicated LNG training facilities for realistic training via liquid cargo simulators (LCS), designed and developed by BSM’s in-house technical team that uses SEA-LNG member GTT’s training software.

BSM also operates an LNG Competence Centre (LCC), providing consultancy services across a range of LNG industry topics, including technical, crewing and commercial matters.

Nick Topham, Managing Director of Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement Germany, commented: “At BSM, we are committed to LNG as a marine fuel. It is a proven, technically mature solution already being used on many ships, offering comprehensively developed supply and bunkering infrastructure. SEA-LNG provides an important network for exchanging ideas and pooling expertise with other stakeholders, jointly advancing LNG-related projects.”

Peter Keller, Chairman of SEA-LNG, stated: “BSM joining represents a significant milestone for SEA-LNG. We welcome our first ship manager into the coalition, adding valuable insight and many years of experience in LNG as a marine fuel. BSM has been at the forefront of using LNG operationally for decades, with no major safety incidents in port or at sea, ensuring safe operations for seafarers today.”

“Thanks to the hard work of BSM and our other members, LNG as a marine fuel offers a low-risk, incremental pathway to net-zero GHG emissions in shipping via biomethane and e-methane. As a result, LNG is a proven solution today and for 2050 and beyond with biomethane and e-methane utilising existing LNG infrastructure and proven safe shipboard technology.”

To note, several companies have joined the SEA-LNG coalition this year, recognizing LNG as a practical lower-emission marine fuel.