Chemical Transport News

Concept Development of Large Cryogenic Liquid Transport of High Value GasesHerbert Engineering was selected by Agility Gas Technology of Park Ridge NJ to develop a ship design concept that will capitalize on Agility’s novel, less expensive yet safer technology to build large atmospheric-pressure cryogenic-liquid chemical transport ships. Specific designs are under development for very large volume liquid ethylene, ethane and propylene transport.According to Charles Matar, CEO of Agility…

DNV GL said it has acquired ComputIT, a specialist independent company for Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software and R&D. ComputIT develops unique high-end technology for simulating fires, explosions and gas dispersion. “This acquisition brings us world-leading capabilities in the CFD domain,” says Are F. Tjønn, CEO, DNV GL - Software. With its roots in the offshore sector, ComputIT has also served onshore oil and gas, power generation, chemical, transport, maritime, and construction industries. It has been engaged by governmental bodies for investigation of fire accidents.

Despite its unquestionable allure, LNG as a fuel carries with it as many risks as it does answers to the problems it promises to solve. As industry and OEM’s work to remove any doubt, the collaborative effort outpaces the slow-moving regulatory machine. Even as Lloyds Register predicts that LNG will reach a maximum 11% share of marine propulsion solutions in 2030, it also says that segments with higher proportion of small ships will see the highest LNG uptake. And, at the same time, says the global classification society in its recent paper entitled, Global Marine Fuel Trends 2030, the marine fuel mix for bulk, containers and tankers…

RichLand-LSP strengthens chemical logistics business unit with appointment of Graham Wall as Managing Director; Singapore-based logistics solutions provider looks to expand in South-East Asia region under new leadership. Leading chemical logistics solutions provider RichLand-LSP has appointed Graham Wall as Managing Director as it looks to expand its bulk liquid chemical transport operations throughout South-East Asia. Mr Wall brings 25 years of chemical logistics experience…

The Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI) recently enlarged the staff of licensed instructors at its Center for Maritime Education in Houston, adding to its ranks Captain Christine Shank, a former Kirby Inland Marine captain. Shank joins two other staff members working from SCI’s training facility, which the Institute recently equipped with new state-of-the-art computer simulation technology. Along with the improvement of infrastructure, SCI–Houston’s new expert hire reflects the Institute’s commitment to enlarge training to meet the needs of maritime industry professionals. Originally from California, Shank attended Texas A&M University at Galveston. Although intent upon studying marine biology, she explored other options after encountering the A&M Corps of Cadets.

Ferichloride (FeCl3) has been transported since some months via European channels and rivers, from Lille to Paris. Brand new here are the special double liners in thermoplastic material that are being installed inside the ships by the company Comenco Belgium. FeCl3 is a strong acid and is very corrosive towards steel. The plastic material used in this new system is resistant against all main acids and alkali. The tailor made plastic tanks have double walls. This is to protect the ship against any corrosion damage in case of calamities.

The signature of this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covers the framework for co-operation between the three organizations in establishing a network of chemical experts called “Marine ICE" or "MAR-ICE network," which aims to strengthen information transfer on chemical substances involved in marine pollution emergencies in EU waters. The purpose of this network is to provide, upon request, the Member States of the European Union and the coastal states of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) with remote product specific information on chemicals involved in marine pollution, by contacting experts in chemical companies who are familiar with the substance(s) involved.

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com) has announced the addition of Shipping Industry in India to their offering. The Indian shipping industry consists of about 616 ships, with a total capacity of 6.62 million tons Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT). Of these, about 258 ships are engaged in overseas trade and the rest ply inland routes. After a period of decline, both tonnage and fleet size have grown recently, with the addition of ships -- tugs, survey vessels, towing vessels as well as pilot vessels -- belonging to ports and maritime boards. These were added between April 2002 and March 2003. There are about 55 shipping companies in the sector, of which 19 deal exclusively in coastal trade, and 29 are engaged in overseas trade. The rest operate in both types of trade.

Inc. announced that U.S. Shipping Partners, L.P. 156,000-barrel, ocean-class, double-hull tank barges. built by its Bay Shipbuilding subsidiary located in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. molded depth. The contract also includes options for two additional vessels. Other contract terms were not disclosed. The U.S. Manitowoc Marine Group. approximately 2.0 million barrels. The U.S. the East Coast and will be ABS, Coast Guard, and OPA-90 compliant.

The Manitowoc Company,Inc. announced that U.S. Shipping Partners, L.P. has awarded the Manitowoc Marine Group (MMG) a contract for the construction of two 156,000-barrel, ocean-class, double-hull tank barges. The vessels will be built by its Bay Shipbuilding subsidiary located in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. The barges, which are scheduled for delivery in the third and fourth quarters of 2008, will measure 521 feet in length, 72 feet in width, and 41 feet in molded depth. The contract also includes options for two additional vessels. The U.S. Shipping barges will be used for oil and chemical transport along the East Coast and will be ABS, Coast Guard, and OPA-90 compliant.

A recent article mentioned the USCG's March 22, 1999, Notice of Proposed RuleMaking (NPRM) concerning Tank Vessel Response Plans for Hazardous Substances. Since that time I've spent a good deal of time thinking about this NPRM. I feel it appropriate to address some additional aspects of the proposal. There are many issues seemingly unresolved within the proposal. Is it the USCG's intent to establish a new industry for hazardous substance response recovery, developing techniques and recovery equipment not widely in use? If one takes seriously what the USCG has written, such would seem to be the case. It would seem the USCG is taking the experience gained from many years of working with oil recovery and attempting to apply it to chemical responses. Is that possible? Many think it isn't.

Norway's Odfjell ASA and Greece's Ceres Hellenic Shipping will merge their chemical transport assets to create the world's largest fleet of clean tanker tonnage. The transaction, a combined $360 million investment, will create a combined fleet of 92 ships, of which 49 would be wholly or partly owned, company officials said. Odfjell will issue 4.9 million shares to Ceres, worth about $121 million, in exchange for nine chemical tankers totaling 335,000 dwt and four ships totaling 160,000 dwt to be delivered in 2001-2002. Odfjell will also purchase all the shares in Ceres' chemical tanker company Seachem and remaining Seachem ships in its 23 vessel fleet would be managed by the combined group.