GAIL achieves first ship-to-ship LNG transfer, reduces CO2 emissions

GAIL, India's leading gas firm, has accomplished the world's first ship-to-ship transfer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) with the aim of reducing shipping costs and lowering emissions. The state-owned entity is exploring innovative approaches to enhance its business.It was revealed by company officials that GAIL has secured a contract for 5.8 million tonnes per annum of LNG, which is natural gas super-cooled to a liquid state, from the United States. The company transports this volume to India using LNG ships. Traditionally, these ships cover a distance of approximately 19,554 nautical miles for a round trip, transporting LNG from Sabine Pass in the US to India via the Suez Canal and Gibraltar. This journey spans about 54 days and results in the emission of around 15,600 tonnes of CO2.Typically, emissions are managed through advanced technology or by altering the cargo's destination. However, GAIL's inventive contractual arrangement, leading to vessels following an optimised path, has resulted in a significant decrease in CO2 emissions.