Could Natural Gas Soon Replace Diesel on the High Seas?

By Simon Erickson and Jim Mueller – Sep 29, 2013 at 8:15AM

NYSE: CAT

Caterpillar

Market Cap

$171B

Today's Change

(1.59%) $5.38

Current Price

$343.38

Price as of April 26, 2024, 4:00 p.m. ET

Much has been made about the opportunity for investors as transport companies explore switching from diesel to liquefied natural gas on the roads. But could the opportunity in the shipping industry be even bigger?

How do new seagoing engine regulations affect the LNG space? By leading to converting engines from diesel-powered to LNG-powered, of course. Two obvious beneficiaries are General Electric (GE 0.68%) and Caterpillar (CAT 1.59%), but the American consumer could also benefit from lower costs of moving goods around the world. Analysts Simon Erickson and Jim Mueller bat around some ideas in the following video.

Alison Southwick owns shares of Seaspan. Jim Mueller owns shares of Westport Innovations, Seaspan, and Canadian National Railway and also has long January 2015 $28 calls and short January 2015 $30 puts on Westport Innovations. Simon Erickson owns shares of Westport Innovations. The Motley Fool recommends Canadian National Railway and Westport Innovations and owns shares of General Electric Company, Seaspan, and Westport Innovations. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.