London – Multi-sector coalition SEA\LNG has announced its board of directors, which is representative of the coalition’s membership. This follows the announcement that Peter Keller, Executive Vice President of Tote Inc., will chair the coalition. The board of directors is responsible for the strategic development and oversight of SEA\LNG’s vision, mission, objectives and activities, directed towards the accelerated use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel. It will play a critical role in representing the membership in key decision making, as well as promoting SEA\LNG initiatives. The SEA/LNG board of directors is:
  • Peter Keller, Chairman, SEA\LNG and Executive Vice President, TOTE Inc.
  • Michael Chia, Managing Director (Technology), Keppel Offshore & Marine
  • Tjerk Johan de Vries, Executive Vice President and Regional Director, DNV GL
  • Timo Koponen, Vice President, Flow and Gas Solutions, Wärtsilä
  • Tetsuya Mizuno, Deputy General Manager, Energy Business Division, Mitsubishi Corporation International (Europe) Plc
  • Svein Steimler, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, NYK Group Europe
  • Tom Strang, Sr. Vice President, Carnival Corporation, plc
  • Yvonne van der Laan, Director of Process Industry and Bulk Goods, Port of Rotterdam
  • Lauran Wetemans, General Manager, Downstream LNG, Shell
Encouraging a coordinated value chain approach, Peter Keller, chairman of SEA\LNG said: “To fully realise the potential of LNG as a marine fuel, it is vital that we work together, across the LNG value chain. No one organisation can advance this agenda alone. Our newly constituted board of directors reflects the diversity of our membership and the scale of the opportunity that lies ahead of us.” Earlier this month, the coalition issued a position statement offering its support for the implementation of MARPOL Annex VI for the prevention of air pollution by ships. Reflecting on the coalition’s position, Keller said: “Independent of the timing of the IMO’s implementation of the 0.5% global sulphur cap, today LNG is already a clean, safe, practical and economically viable fuel for the shipping industry. The industry is making big steps in creating the infrastructure to enable quick, safe and cost effective LNG bunkering in key global ports; diminishing the price premium for LNG-fuelled vessels; as well as working with regulators to establish consistent international and national regulations, which we believe will enhance investment in this sector.”