MARAD funds GLMRI research on LNG as alternative fuel

The Great Lakes Maritime Research Institute (GLMRI) has been awarded $400,000 to continue their research and outreach on using LNG as an alternative fuel. 

The U.S. Maritime Administration under the Department of Transportation provided the funding for the research program. Under a cooperative agreement between the two agencies, MARAD extended the on-going work that GLMRI has been doing since 2011 to continue working to research the use of LNG for marine vessels on the Great Lakes and the region, and to further research the supply chain for LNG.

On September 18, Richard Stewart, Co-Director of GLMRI, Carol Wolosz, Executive Director and Cassandra Roemhildt, Research Associate, had a kickoff meeting at the University of Wisconsin-Superior with Daniel Yuska from MARAD to discuss the focus of the work. Faculty members from the UW-Superior Business Department – Amit Mokashi, Mei Cao and Zamira Simkins also met with Yuska to talk about other maritime related projects at the university.

In May 2014 at UW-Superior, GLMRI held its third annual meeting to discuss the LNG potential for the Great Lakes region. Experts discussed LNG uses and safety, along with their experiences as current users. Speakers also addressed the potential benefits of using LNG, with a focus on “greening the supply chain”. Attendees at the meeting included potential LNG fuel users from the mining, agricultural, trucking, rail and maritime sectors along with LNG equipment and LNG development companies. City, state and federal representatives from the Great Lakes region, along with fire marshals and first responders participated to better understand the embedded safety culture.

In the newly awarded effort, GLMRI will continue to work with industry, governmental agencies and potential users to extend the LNG supply chain and research potential sites and methods on providing LNG to the maritime industry and other potential users. GLMRI will work to support educational workshops over the coming year, to provide informational sessions on the use and potential economic and environmental benefits associated with fueling with LNG.

Press Release, October 6, 2014; Image: GLMRI