Yesterday, the world’s first fuelling vessel for LNG (liquefied natural gas) was christened in a traditional christening ceremony in Stockholm, by Helena Bonnier, the chairman of Ports of Stockholm (Stockholms Hamnar), in the presence of the Minister of Infrastructure, Catharina Elmsäter-Svärd, among others. In spring of 2012, the Swedish government decided to support what was then a TEN-T request about a LNG fuelling vessel. One year later, the ship is christened and constitutes as an additional component in a competitive maritime shipping with quality, safety and a strong environmental profile, says the Swedish Minister of Infrastructure, Catharina Elmsäter-Svärd. The LNG fuelling vessel, Seagas, is the first ship in the world of its kind, and is classified under the same regulations that apply to oceangoing LNG-tankers. The fuelling vessel will on a daily basis, supply 60-70 tons of LNG to M/S Viking Grace, the new cruise-ship of Viking Line, when the ship ... [More]

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) signed on the dotted line a few days ago to build a 138,000 gt LNG carrier in their ‘Sayaendo’ series for Mitsui O.S.K. Lines .  MHI describe this 288m (945ft) long vessel as a ‘New-generation’ LNG carrier, with a multitude of new design features which add up, MHI claims, to deliver a 25% reduction in fuel consumption compared to that of conventional LNG carriers of the same size; but essentially the design is marked by two outstanding features. The first a dramatic change in the shape of the ship compared with the distinctive dromedary-like silhouette of other LNG carriers. Second a  new turbine plant that achieves higher thermal energy by steam reheat. MHI 'Sayaendo' LNG Carrier: Image courtesy of MHI LNG Tanks – 'Peas in a Pod' StyleThe name itself explains the concept: ‘Sayaendo’ in Japanese means ‘peas in a pod’. The ‘peas’ are the spherical LNG tanks, the ‘pod&r... [More]

MAN Diesel & Turbo together with Germanischer Lloyd have published a study analyzing the problem of the best way for container ships to meet the present and future exhaust emission regulations. The four technologies investigated in the study are: exhaust gas cleaning by scrubber, scrubber plus Waste Heat Recovery (WHR), LNG as a fuel and LNG with WHR. In the study, circumstances were considered for five sizes of container ship. The smallest is a feeder of 2,500 TEU going up to the largest of 18,000 TEU. For each ship size the speed, engine power, round trip distance and percentage of distance spent in Emission Control Areas is estimated proportionally. The study concludes that LNG offers lower emissions and given the right circumstances, less fuel cost. [More]

This year the Water Police that patrol the Netherlands inland waterways are experimenting with a dual fuel gasoline / CNG Honda outboard powered patrol boat. The boat is a 18 ft (5.6 m) Dolphin RIB powered by a Honda 90 VTEC outboard. In addition to the standard gasoline tank, there is a 24 US gall (90 liter) CNG tank with a capacity for 33 lbs (15 kg) of CNG, held under pressure of approx 3,000psi (~200 bar). The fuel system cold starts on gasoline and when operating temperature is reached switches over automatically to CNG and remains operating on gas under 2,000 rpm. Above that speed it switches over to gasoline to realise the full power of the engine. In practical terms, the boat can patrol all day on one tank of CNG, when speed is required, it is always available and the performance of the boat is not impaired in any way due to the dual fuel capability. The fuel cost of CNG compared to gasoline in the Netherlands is about half, giving a substantial through life cost saving. [More]

The Russian Sovcomflot (SCF Group) ordered two ice2 class LNG carriers last year with STX, S.Korea. The Atlantic-max carriers have capacity of 170,000 cubic meters using a reinforced membrane structure. Vessels of this capacity have a LOA of approximately 980 ft and beam of 150 ft. The vessels use a dual fuel electric propulsion system giving 19.5 kn comprising two 8L51/60DF engines of 8MW at 514 rpm and two 9L51/60DF engines of 9MW at 514 rpm. The engines will be built at the MAN Augsburg factory for delivery end 2012. [More]

Italian builder Fincantieri, together with engine manufacturer Wärtsilä and designer Stefano Pastrovich have put forward a 325 ft megayacht concept called X-Vintage, using the dual fuels of LNG and MGO. The impending IMO Tier 3 regulation deadline of 2016 and the expected expansion of Emission Control Areas, using LNG avoids the necessity of having to incorporate exhaust treatment equipment to ensure compliance with the forthcoming regulations. In the X-Vintage, the twin tanks are located forward of the “garage for toys” where the headroom, out of necessity to accommodate some of the toys, is greater than on the other decks. A twin shaft electric propulsion system is specified with six Wärtsilä 6L20DF dual fuel generators each rated at 1,056 kW at 1,200 rpm. [More]

Specialist ship owner Anthony Veder, Netherlands, new LNG carrier ordered from Mayer Werft, Germany is due for delivery in the second quarter of 2012. A direct mechanical drive system is specified for the vessel which is believed to be the first application of its type. The new LNG carrier has a capacity of 550,000 ft3 (15,600 m3) with a LOA of 512 ft (156 m) The single shaft propulsion system comprises a Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel engine going through a reduction gearbox to a controllable pitch propeller. Operation on LNG all but eliminates SOx emissions and reduces the production of CO2 and NOx to levels that are sufficiently low as to be within the IMO Tier 3 NOx regulations and compliant with the requirements of the ECAs. [More]

A unique Netherlands waterway tanker – the first with diesel-electric propulsion powered entirely by LNG – will soon ply the busy 2,000 km commercial waterways that connect to Europe’s industrial hub and account for about 40% of all international freight movements in the Netherlands. The LNG Greenstream Tanker, fruit of two years R&D and negotiation with statutory authorities and consultants, is scheduled to be delivered from the Kampen yard of builders Peters Shipyards later this year. The 110 m LOA river and canal tanker represents a leap in faith by owners Interstream Barging, who are putting money on their bet that LNG will become the fuel of the future on Europe’s waterways; confident enough not to hedge the bet by going for a dual-fuel engine. LNG Greenstream Tanker: Image credit Peters Shipyards LNG Greenstream Tanker – Design LNG bunker fuel stored in cyrogenic fuel tanks under approximately 2 bar at – 162ºC is carried on deck i... [More]

The international maritime sector is prime candidate to take the hit of a tax on shipping bunkers, analysts are convinced, after recent U.N. Climate Change talks in Durban agreed the design of a 'Global Climate Fund' to channel up to $100 billion a year to compensate poorer nations whilst leaving open the question of where the money would be coming from. Oxfam and green group WWF tabled a Durban motion calling for a carbon levy of  a massive $25 per tonne oil bunker tax but failed to obtain a consensus, nevertheless firing a warning shot across the industry’s bows. Latest news of advancements in the LNG fuel project for diesel engines, and a bullish forecast for future growth in LNG take-up follows below. LNG Supply Side DevelopmentsWorld-wide expansion plans for new LNG bunker station are reported by Zeus Intelligence listing in the past week supply proposals in such varied locations as on the Yangtze River; Port Fourcheon, Louisiana; Trinidad in the West Indies, and a... [More]

Caterpillar Marine Power Systems recently announce the development of a new MaK M46DF series as a dual fuel engine suitable for electric or mechanical propulsion. The 46DF series is offered with a power output of 900 kW per cylinder at both 500 and 514 rpm engine speeds. When operating on LNG, it complies with IMO III as well as EPA Tier 4 regulations.
The new M46DF series has the same main dimensions and interfaces as the 43C series, simplifying the substitution of the 46DF engine in 43C applications and there is the possibility to retrofit existing 43C engines to dual fuel operation. Availability of the DF series is 2014. [More]