The U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) has announced that USD 900,000 in federal funding is available to support the conversion of existing U.S. flag vessels to liquefied natural gas (LNG) propulsion.
The funding has been assigned within a demonstration project aimed by MARAD to support further activities on cutting air emissions.
“MARAD intends to use the results/data of this demonstration project to support further work related to air emissions reduction/alternative fuels research and to assess the public benefit of possible incentives to encourage adoption of emissions reduction and alternative fuels in the marine sector,” the administration said.
The demonstration project is aimed at collecting data regarding air emission reductions achieved using LNG and operational lessons learned from operating a vessel on LNG.
Shipowners interested in applying for the funding have been given a deadline by May 7 to apply.