Wärtsilä, has joined forces with Chevron Shipping Company is set to convert one engine on six of Chevron Transport Corporation LNG carriers from dual-fuel (DF) to spark gas (SG) operation.

This initiative aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by lowering methane slip, aligning with Chevron’s broader strategy to cut the carbon intensity of its fleet. The first orders for two vessels were placed with Wärtsilä in Q3 2024, following two years of close collaboration between the companies.

LNG as a marine fuel can result in methane slip, where small amounts of methane escape unburned into the atmosphere. Though methane remains in the atmosphere for a shorter period compared to CO₂, it has a significantly higher heat-trapping potential—up to 30 times greater over a 100-year timeframe. Addressing methane slip is critical to achieving lower carbon emissions in shipping. Wärtsilä’s DF-to-SG conversion project will modify engines to use spark ignition instead of a diesel pilot fuel, enabling a more efficient combustion process and reducing methane slip.