Not-for-profit multi-sector industry coalition SEA\LNG has entered a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Society for Gas as a Marine Fuel (SGMF) to increase the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel.

The deal will see SEALNG and SGMF create a joint framework to discern the most efficient way of advocating for the use of LNG in the shipping industry.

Both organisations will share knowledge, data, and information with each other to benefit their members.

SEALNG will also educate investors and other key stakeholders in the marine transportation value chain, while SGMF will continue to develop guidelines and best practice with publications, guidance notices, industry statistics, and studies.

SEALNG chairman and executive vice-president Peter Keller said: “SEALNG and SGMF have separate but complementary missions, and we are both wholly committed to the development of natural gas as a marine fuel.

“This MoU will ensure that our efforts are concentrated on defined areas, enabling us to support each other successfully, and ultimately providing the confidence and demand required for an effective, efficient, and safe global marine LNG value chain by 2020.”

SEALNG was established in July, and includes ABS, Bureau Veritas, Carnival, Clean Marine Energy, DNV GL, Wärtsilä and others among its members.

SGMF currently comprises more than 100 members and focuses mainly on safety, operational, and technical aspects in the development of natural gas as a sustainable marine fuel.