Japan Takes the Lead on Ammonia as Maritime Fuel
Late last year Japanese maritime leaders – Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK), Japan Engine Corporation, IHI Power Systems Co., and Nihon Shipyard Co., Ltd. – signed a series of contracts to buid the world's first ammonia-fueled medium gas carrier (AFMGC) equipped with Japan-make engines. The target is a completed ship by November 2026.While the project is significant, hurdles remain, namely:While development work is underway, today there is not yet a dual-fuel ammonia engine on the market, andThe international rules for ships using ammonia as fuel are not yet in place.On the latter…
Wärtsilä’s Inks Deal for Supplies on Four new LPG Ships
Wärtsilä will supply the cargo handling and fuel supply systems for four new 40,000 m3 gas carrier vessels. The ships are being built at the CIMC SinoPacific Offshore & Engineering (SOE) shipyard in China for Norwegian shipowner Avance Gas. The Wärtsilä LPG Fuel Supply System (LFSS) is a system that enables the use of LPG as fuel. This increases operational efficiency and supports environmental sustainability.These will be the first medium sized LPG carrier vessels built at the SOE yard. The Wärtsilä equipment is scheduled to be delivered in the latter part of 2024…
LPG: Dual-Fuel Engines Prove Their Worth
BW LPG has demonstrated the value of dual-fuel LPG operations beyond the company’s initial aim of meeting IMO 2020 Sulphur Cap regulations.In October 2020, the LPG carrier BW Gemini became the first very large gas carrier (VLGC) to have its low-speed main engine converted to an LPG dual-fuel engine. The project started several years earlier, sparked by Oslo-listed BW LPG’s preparations for the IMO’s 2020 Sulphur Cap regulations.Compared to heavy fuel oil, LPG reduces Sox emissions by approximately 97%…
Tech File: Wärtsilä Delivers Last of 15 LPG Fuel Supply Systems
Wärtsilä said it completed delivery of its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) fuel supply system (LFSS) to 15 very large gas carrier (VLGC) vessels owned and operated by BW LPG, which has the world’s largest fleet of VLGC vessels.BW LPG ordered the first four of these 15 systems in 2018, immediately following Wärtsilä’s full-scale testing of a full-sized two-stroke marine engine operating with LPG fuel. This was the world’s first such testing protocol, and the performance attained was seen as exceeding expectations.
Waterborne LPG Trade Reaches 28.2MT
Global waterborne LPG trade reached 28.2 million tons, 14.1% growth year over year, said Singapore-headquartered BW LPG.Global LPG trade continues to be driven by the U.S. waterborne LPG exports which grew to 10.5 million tons, up 21.8% year over year, said the owner and operator of LPG vessels.Middle Eastern exports were down marginally by 0.6% year over year to 10.2 million tons. Exports from both Saudi Arabia and Iran fell; the decreased volumes were offset by increased exports from U.A.E and Qatar.In Q3, the increasing LPG export volumes were absorbed by Southeast Asia, Japan and Europe.
VT Halter Nabs Deal to Build LNG Bunkering ATB
As the move toward LNG as marine fuel moves foward in earnest, Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd (ST Engineering) announced that its US shipyard, VT Halter Marine won the contract by Quality Liquefied Natural Gas Transport, LLC (Q-LNG) to build America’s first offshore Liquefied Natural Gas Articulated Tug and Barge (LNG ATB) unit. Q-LNG contracted VT Halter Marine for engineering services to complete the detailed design for the development and construction of one LNG Bunkering ATB unit. The ATB Tug will have 5,100 hp GE 6L250 MDC EPA Tier 4 main engines, with Z-drives, and dimensions of 128 x 42 x 21-ft..
Damen Plunges into LNG Market
Damen Shipyards Group’s range of Liquefied Gas Carriers is a response to the changes seen in the maritime LNG market in recent years. The Dutch company’s designs meet a variety of capacity requirements, from 500 m3 to 7,500 m3. The maritime LNG market has long been faced with the conundrum around the subject of supply and demand. Ship owners have been reluctant to make the switch to LNG because of the lack of bunkering infrastructure. At the same time, development of bunker infrastructure has been slow to get off the ground due to the low demand from the market.
Dryships to Expand into VLGC sector
DryShips Inc. announced today that, it has agreed to enter into a “zero cost” Option Agreement (“LPG Option Agreement”) with companies controlled by its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. George Economou, to purchase up to four high specifications Very Large Gas Carriers (“VLGC(s)”) capable of carrying liquefied petroleum gas (“LPG”) that are currently under construction at Hyundai Heavy Industries (“HHI”) . Each of the four VLGCs are going to be employed on long term charters to major oil companies and oil traders.
GTT's Mark Technology for SHI's LNG Carrier
GTT has received an order from Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) to equip a new LNGC (Liquefied Natural Gas Carrier) with Mark technology. The vessel will be built at SHI’s shipyard in Goeje Island for a European ship-owner. Delivery is scheduled in 2019. SHI should apply to this LNGC the latest GTT technology, Mark V, which offers an unrivalled thermal efficiency. With Mark V, GTT has created a real breakthrough by reducing the guaranteed daily boil-off rate to 0.07% of the tank volume. In addition, this new solution relies on a new metallic secondary membrane based on Fe36Ni (invar).
Shell loads first LNG vessel at Gate Terminal
Shell’s started operations of the new LNG fuel infrastructure at Gas Access to Europe (Gate) terminal in the Netherlands. The new LNG fuel infrastructure included the construction of a new berth. This new berth has now started operations. The loading of Shell’s chartered LNG vessel, the Coral Methane happened on the 19th of September. ·In July 2014, Shell took the Final Investment Decision to buy capacity at the Gas Access to Europe (Gate) terminal, which enabled the investment in new, dedicated liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel infrastructure. ·The new LNG fuel infrastructure included the construction of a new berth.
Bourbon Puts Gas Plans on Hold
Bourbon’s plan to diversify into the gas carrier market has run into financial obstacles. The company said in a statement that its board of directors acknowledged that the financing required for the acquisition of Jaccar Holdings’ gas activities would not be obtained within the originally stated timeframe. Consequently, the board has removed the resolution from the agenda of the annual shareholders meeting scheduled for May 26. “The diversification of Bourbon in this new activity remains a strategic objective for the company,” it said in a statement.
US Shale Gas Arrives in Europe
* The INEOS Intrepid, the world’s largest multi gas carrier, today arrived at Rafnes in Norway carrying 27,500m3 of ethane from US shale gas. * This is the first time that ethane from US shale gas has ever been shipped to Europe and represents the culmination of a $2 billion investment by INEOS. * INEOS intends to eventually use eight of these huge ships to provide a virtual pipeline shipping US shale gas to its two petrochemical sites in Norway and Scotland, as US shale gas replaces the reducing gas feed from the North Sea.
First Ethane Shipment Departs U.S.
The JS INEOS Intrepid, Evergas' 27,500 cbm gas carrier, has departed the Marcus Hook terminal in Philadelphia, with a full cargo of ethane, bound for Norway. The shale gas is cooled to -90ºC for the journey of around 3500 NM, which is expected to take nine to ten days. The ethane shipment is the first ever from the U.S. to Europe which finally gives Europe the chance to benefit from US shale gas story. The INEOS Intrepid is one of our four specially designed Dragon class ships that will form part of a fleet of eight of the world’s largest ethane capable carriers. At Evergas we are very proud of being a part this milestone.
Dorian Delivers Caravelle Sells Grendon
Dorian LPG Ltd. reported today that it took delivery of the ECO VLGC Caravelle from Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries. The Caravelle is Dorian LPG's 19th and final scheduled newbuilding delivery. The Caravelle will trade in the Helios LPG Pool. In addition, Dorian LPG announced that it recently completed the sale of the Grendon, its 5,000 cubic meter pressurized gas carrier, to unrelated Asian interests.
Dorian LPG Post 3Q 2016 Profit
Dorian LPG Ltd. a leading owner and operator of modern very large gas carriers, today reported its financial results for the three months ended December 31, 2015. John Hadjipateras, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "The third quarter was an extremely busy period for Dorian as we took the delivery of seven new Eco-design VLGCs. Our cash flow generated from operations has allowed us to repurchase an additional 480,231 shares of our common stock for $5.8 million over the quarter under the board's previously announced authorization to repurchase up to $100 million on or before December 31, 2016.
GAC to Serve Global LNG Sector
The GAC Group has formed a dedicated team to meet growing global demand for a wide range of specialised support services for gas carrier operations. GAC already has extensive experience of serving gas carriers around the world, and has handled over 10,000 LNG port calls around the world in the past decade. However, the decision to form GAC LNG Services was made in response to the recent surge in global production, particularly in North America, bringing with it growing demand from ship owners, suppliers, buyers and receivers of LNG for dedicated expertise in the provision of specialized support services.
Russian Class for New FSRU
A Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) will be built to the class of Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS). The agreement on classification of FSRU under construction has been signed between RS and Hyundai Heavy Industries, the Republic of Korea. According to Georgy Bedrik, Head of the RS Planning and Marketing Division, one of the key features distinguishing the FSRU from other gas carriers built to the RS class involves the LNG regasification system, systems for LNG loading from other LNG carriers as well as export of the regasified product to shore.
RINA Group Widens Gas Sector Services
International classification, certification and engineering group RINA said it has widened its services to the global gas industry. While its traditional classification society arm RINA Services has recently approved a new Compressed Natural Gas carrier to aid the exploitation of marginal fields, the groups’ engineering arm, D’Appolonia, is delivering geotechnical, social and environmental services to the Mozambique LNG development. The gas market and technology are constantly changing, and RINA Services and D’Appolonia lead those changes, according to the group.
Jaccar Inks Gas Carrier Financing Deal with ICBC leasing
JACCAR Holdings informed that Mr. Li Keqiang – Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of China - during his recent state visit to France signed Memorandam of Understanding with Mr. Manuel Valls, Prime Minister of France , for a 900 M$ financing of gas carriers with ICBC leasing. Jacques de Chateauvieux, as Chairman and CEO of Cana Tera and JACCAR Holdings declared “we are extremely honored to benefit from the trust of ICBC Leasing for the second time following the BOURBON sale and bare boat charter for 10 years of 46 offshore vessels completed last year.
LR, Penn Oak Energy Partner for LNG Retrofit Service
Lloyd’s Register North America, Inc. (LR) has teamed with Penn Oak Energy Corp to help companies raise capital and mitigate the technical risks associated with retrofitting ships fuelled by liquid natural gas (LNG), by providing a one-stop-shop solution to the industry. Ships that are fuelled by LNG can reduce operating costs while meeting stricter environmental regulations. LNG-fuelled ships have reduced emissions (nitrogen oxide, sulphur oxide and particulate matter) as compared with heavy bunker oil and even low-sulphur marine diesel. Historically, the leading expense for ship operators is fuel and personnel.
