LNG as Marine Fuel under LGF Code: A Meta-Analysis of Emission Reduction, Economic Viability and Safety Performance

Authors

  • Yusuf Pria Utama Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Pelayaran, Jakarta, Indonesia
  • Rini Setiyawati Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Pelayaran, Jakarta, Indonesia
  • Rizal Rochmansyah Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Pelayaran, Jakarta, Indonesia
  • Nurul Wahyuni H. Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Pelayaran, Jakarta, Indonesia
  • Fitri Mulyana Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Pelayaran, Jakarta, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.38035/dijdbm.v7i2.6344

Keywords:

LNG Marine Fuel, IGF Code, Meta-Analysis, Methane Slip, Decarbonization, Maritime Transport

Abstract

The International Maritime Organization's (IMO) decarbonization targets necessitate adopting alternative fuels. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), regulated by the International Code of Safety for Ships Using Gases or Other Low-Flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code), offers potential emission reductions but faces debates regarding methane slip and cost-effectiveness. This meta-analysis synthesized 48 peer-reviewed studies (2015–2024) following PRISMA guidelines. Random- effects models quantified LNG’s performance versus conventional fuels (HFO/MDO) in emissions (CO₂eq, SOₓ, NOₓ, PM), economics (CAPEX/OPEX), and safety. Heterogeneity was assessed via I² statistics. LNG reduces SOₓ by 98% (95% CI: 96–99), NOₓ by 25% (18–32), and PM by 93% (88–97). Net CO₂eq reduction is 12% (5–19) after methane slip adjustment (0.2–5%). CAPEX is 25% higher (SMD = 1.8; 1.5–2.1), but OPEX is 22% lower (SMD = -1.2; -1.8 to -0.6). Safety incidents are 1.8× more likely (OR = 1.8; 1.2–2.7), mitigated by IGF-compliant training (OR = 0.6; 0.4–0.9). LNG achieves immediate air quality benefits but requires methane slip abatement for climate goals. Policy priorities include bio-LNG blending and global bunkering standardization

References

IMO (2023). Revised GHG Strategy. MEPC 80/INF.7.

IMO (2015). International Code of Safety for Ships Using Gases or Other Low-Flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code)

Balcombe, P., et al. (2019). Journal of Cleaner Production, 222, 565–578.

Bengtsson, S., et al. (2017). Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 52, 202–215

Adachi, M., et al. (2020). Journal of Marine Science and Technology, 25(3), 890–901. Page, M.J., et al. (2021). BMJ, 372, n71.

Wells, G.A., et al. (2014). Ottawa Hospital Research Institute Wärtsilä (2023). Bio-LNG in Maritime: Feasibility Study

Downloads

Published

2026-02-25

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 2 (2026): Dinasti International Journal of Digital Business Management (February - March 2026)

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Yusuf Pria Utama, Rini Setiyawati, Rizal Rochmansyah, Nurul Wahyuni H., Fitri Mulyana

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Authors who publish their manuscripts in this journal agree to the following conditions:

  1. The copyright on each article belongs to the author(s).
  2. The author acknowledges that the Dinasti International Journal of Digital Business Management (DIJDBM) has the right to be the first to publish with a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license (Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0).
  3. Authors can submit articles separately, arrange for the non-exclusive distribution of manuscripts that have been published in this journal into other versions (e.g., sent to the author's institutional repository, publication into books, etc.), by acknowledging that the manuscript has been published for the first time in the Dinasti International Journal of Digital Business Management (DIJDBM).