Platts changes LNG freight fuel assumptions

S&P Global Platts has decided to change the fuel assumptions used in its LNG freight route costs, effective January 2, 2020.

This decision is based on market feedback highlighting recent changes in fuel usage on LNG carriers, in part due to the incoming IMO 2020 rules, but linked also to more competitive LNG prices as well.

Platts will change the assumption on fuel consumption to boil-off gas only. In other words LNG freight calculations will no longer reference fuel oil. Given the existing assumption of 100 mt/day at 17 knots, this means 5,200 MMBtu/day of fuel requirement met entirely by boil-off gas.

This change will not alter the other assumptions used to underpin LNG freight route costs. The other assumptions remain: modern conventional TFDE vessel, with a vessel capacity of 155,000-180,000 cu m, standardized to 165,000 cu m; boil-off: 0.12%/day while laden and 0.09% while ballasting.

Platts continues to invite comments and queries to lng@spglobal.com and pricegroup@spglobal.com. For written comments, please provide a clear indication if comments are not intended for publication by Platts for public viewing. Platts will consider all comments received and will make comments not marked as confidential available upon request.