A new joint development project aims to test whether directly measured shipboard CO2 emissions could eventually replace the default emission factors that underpin much of shipping’s regulatory reporting, according to Ship & Bunker.
The initiative, announced at Gastech 2026 in Bangkok, brings together class society Lloyd’s Register (LR), LNG carrier owner Seapeak, and technology firms Kongsberg Maritime and Tunable. According to Ship & Bunker, LR confirmed the project details in an emailed press release.
How the Trial Will Work
Kongsberg’s continuous emissions monitoring system, which incorporates gas analysers supplied by Tunable, will be installed on a newbuild LNG carrier due for delivery in early 2027, Ship & Bunker reports. Monitoring and analysis will continue throughout the year following delivery.
The partners will compare the CO2 readings recorded on board against two existing benchmarks: the engine’s test bed data and the default emission factors currently used industry-wide. LR will act as independent verifier, quantifying any differences and assessing whether direct measurement could be accepted under IMO and EU reporting frameworks, according to Ship & Bunker.
Industry Reactions
Panos Mitrou, LR’s senior vice president for shipping strategy, said the industry currently relies on default emissions factors and test bed data to estimate environmental performance, and that the initiative gives stakeholders a chance to compare those estimates against real-world measurements, Ship & Bunker reports.
Kongsberg sales director Eirik Agren said integrating emissions readings with fuel, engine, and operational data would help corroborate the measurements and strengthen confidence in reported figures, according to the report.
Seapeak, which has interests in 52 LNG carriers including 10 newbuildings, said it wants to evaluate how continuous monitoring can improve emissions insight and identify further reduction opportunities across its fleet, Ship & Bunker reports.
Notably, while the press release refers only to CO2, Ship & Bunker points out that the Kongsberg system also measures methane. Seapeak was reportedly the first shipping company to join the UN’s OGMP 2.0 methane reporting framework, having committed to improved measurement across its LNG fleet.
Does This Matter to You?
This project could have implications for how emissions compliance is verified across the LNG segment and potentially wider shipping in the future. If direct measurement is validated and accepted under IMO and EU reporting rules, it could change how vessel owners and operators demonstrate compliance, moving away from reliance on default emission factors toward verified onboard data.
Given the pressure on the LNG sector to better account for methane slip, as noted by Ship & Bunker, any verified onboard measurement data produced through this trial may attract attention beyond CO2 reporting alone, potentially influencing future methane accounting standards as well.
Gulf Bunkering does not provide operational or security guidance. This article is for informational purposes only. Operators should consult flag state authorities, P&I clubs, and relevant advisories for decisions relating to transit planning.
Sources: Ship & Bunker
