Gas Handling Systems News

SeaspanLNG said it has secured an approval in principle (AIP) with Bureau Veritas for the design of a 7,600 cubic meter capacity liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunker vessel.The LNG bunker vessel has been designed for ship-to-ship LNG transfer as well as well as coastal/short sea shipping operations by Seaspan Ferries’ partner Vard Marine Inc. Seaspan Ferries’ class of dual fuel hybrid electric ferries were developed by Vard in 2014 and included a new method of bunkering the vessels.

Wärtsilä will supply its Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) recovery technology, LNG fuel gas handling systems and the auxiliary engines for two new shuttle tankers being built for Singapore based AET Tankers at the Samsung Heavy Industries shipyard in South Korea. The order, worth in total more than $37 million, was booked in January 2018. The ships will operate on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as the primary fuel, but VOC – the gas evaporating from the oil cargo tanks – will also be utilised as fuel by mixing it with the LNG, thereby reducing the vessels’ bunkering needs. This is made possible by Wärtsilä’s VOC recovery system, which by combining the VOC with the LNG, provides the potential for savings of over 3000 tons of fuel each year per vessel.

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.

Wärtsilä has been awarded the contract by Gdansk Shiprepair Yard Remontowa S.A., to supply a scope of engines, propulsion machinery, integrated automation systems, and gas handling systems required for the mid-life upgrading of two RoPax ferries and their conversion to operate on LNG fuel. The ferries, the Spirit of British Columbia and the Spirit of Vancouver, are the flagship vessels of British Columbia Ferry Services based in Victoria, Canada. The work will be carried by the Remontowa Shiprepair yard in Poland. The contract with Wärtsilä was placed in March 2016.

Japanese shipbuilder Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding (MES) has bought 99.36% of the outstanding ordinary shares in German designer and manufacturer of gas tanks and gas handling systems TGE Marine AG to expand its foothold within the market for medium sized multi-gas carriers. MES acquired 1,209,489 ordinary shares in TGE from Caledonia Investments plc, Gasfin Investment S.A. and Dr. Küver GbR, the partnership belonging to the CEO of TGE, for a total consideration of approximately around JPY 22 billion (EUR 164 million). The shipbuilder will acquire the TGE ordinary shares listed above via a special purpose vehicle which will be incorporated by MES for the sole purpose of acquiring these TGE ordinary shares.

A ferry being built for Sweden’s Rederi AB Gotland will be fueled by LNG, featuring a Wärtsilä integrated solution which includes a complete LNG powered propulsion- and fuel storage and supply system, as well as comprehensive project services. It will be the first Swedish flagged LNG powered passenger vessel and the first LNG-fuelled high speed RoPax ferry in the world. The vessel will be built at the Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) yard in China and when delivered, will sail between the Swedish mainland and the island of Gotland. GSI placed the contract with Wärtsilä in November.

A series of four LNG carriers being built by the Hudong-Zhongua Shipbuilding yard in China will feature Wärtsilä LNG reliquefaction plants and gas handling systems. The ships are owned by Bermuda based Teekay Corporation, China LNG Shipping (CLNG), CNOOC Energy Technology Co of China, and BW Gas of Norway. The contracts with Wärtsilä were issued by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding and were signed during the fourth quarter. The award of these contracts is a significant breakthrough into the Chinese market for Wärtsilä LNG reliquefaction plants and gas handling systems for LNG carriers…

A new passenger ferry being built for Swedish operator Rederi AB Gotland will be fuelled by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and will feature a Wärtsilä integrated solution. The Wärtsilä integrated solution includes a complete LNG powered propulsion- and fuel storage and supply system, as well as comprehensive project services.This will be the first Swedish flagged LNG powered passenger vessel and the first LNG fuelled high speed RoPax ferry in the world. The vessel is being built at the Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) yard in China and when delivered…

Wärtsilä announced its third quarter results, reporting that it sees good development in order intake and profitability. Wärtsilä estimates its profitability for 2014 (EBIT% before non-recurring items) to be 11.5-12%. Previously profitability was expected to be around 11.5%. Wärtsilä reiterated that its expectation that net sales will grow by around 5%. Bjӧrn Rosengren, president and CEO, said, "The third quarter was characterized by the strong development in order intake. In the power generation markets customers are gradually beginning to commit to investments. The improved activity levels especially for smaller orders, combined with the 139 MW order we received from Mexico and the 112 MW order from North Dakota, resulted in a 47% increase in Power Plants' order intake.

Six new 87,000 cubic meters capacity very large ethane carriers (VLECs), being built at the Samsung Heavy Industries yard in South Korea, will feature Wärtsilä gas handling systems. The contract, which includes an option for additional vessels within this series, was signed in September, and deliveries of the Wärtsilä solutions are expected to commence at the end of 2016 and complete in 2017. These vessels will reportedly be the largest ethane carriers ever built and represent a new generation of such vessels mainly transporting ethane as feed stock to the petrochemical industry.

As Tote pioneers the use of natural gas as a marine fuel with two groundbreaking projects, Anthony Chiarello combines the strength and diversity of the Saltchuk group of companies with a forward-thinking, environmentally correct Tote business plan. As TOTE prepares to bring the world’s first natural gas-powered containerships to the maritime industry, the firm will also be the first to convert its existing fleet to run on natural gas. Two Orca Class vessels, operated by Totem Ocean Trailer Express (Totem Ocean) in the Alaska trade, will be converted with minimal time out of service and return as the most environmentally advanced ships in the nation.

A new spar platform being built for Statoil's Aasta Hansteen field off the coast of Norway will feature Wärtsilä's Inert Gas and Nitrogen Generator systems, the power solutions company said. The contract has been issued in the first quarter 2014 by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) of South Korea, the yard building the platform. The Wärtsilä Inert Gas Generator will utilize titanium in its construction, the first time ever that this material has been used in such a system. Titanium was preferred due to its superior corrosion resistance in relation to sea water. Wärtsilä's claims its experience and technical expertise in gas handling systems were critical factors in the award of this contract…

In his speech at the LNG Export & Export & Infrastructure Conference Federal Maritime Commissioner Doyle gives insights on the consequences of the adoption of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as a marine fuel in the United States. I am a Commissioner with the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission. The Federal Maritime Commission is an independent regulatory agency responsible for regulating the nation’s international ocean transportation for the benefit of exporters, importers, and the American consumer. I should emphasize that my thoughts and comments here are mine and mine alone – they do not reflect the position of the Commission, and they should not be construed to represent the positions of any of my fellow Commissioners.

In its interim financial report January to March 2014 Wärtsilä notes healthy development in ship power and services offsetting challenges in power generation markets. "In line with our expectations, first quarter net sales developed well with profitability at 8.9%. Favourable development was also seen in the operating cash flow. The power plant markets remain challenging with customers continuing to delay decision-making due to global economic uncertainty and emerging market currency fluctuations. However, activity in the marine market was at a healthy level and Ship Power performed well, which partly offset the current challenges within the power generation markets.

The U.S. continues to lead the push towards "LNG as Fuel" in the commercial shipping sector, as these 'historic' announcements are now becoming more routine. Totem Ocean Trailer Express (Totem Ocean) announced that Wärtsilä will supply main engines, generators and integrated LNG storage and fuel gas handling systems (LNGPac(TM)) for the largest LNG conversions ever undertaken in North America. In making this decision John Parrott, President of Totem Ocean, cited Wärtsilä's proven technology as a deciding factor in selecting the company.

"For Wärtsilä, 2013 was a year of varying activity within our different end markets. While the improvement in global vessel contracting was significant, power generation markets declined for the second consecutive year. Unfavourable exchange rates and some delayed deliveries at the end of the year led to a slightly weaker than expected net sales development. Profitability on the other hand developed well, reaching 11.2% for the full year. I am pleased with the resilience we have shown in reaching our profitability targets, despite the lower level of sales.

Wärtsilä says it has signed a turnkey contract to supply a liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminal to be built in Tornio, northern Finland. The contract, valued at approximately EUR 100 million, has been made with Manga LNG Oy, a joint venture between the Finnish companies Outokumpu Group, Ruukki Metals Oy, Gasum Oy and EPV Energy Ltd. The contract is conditional on receipt of investment support and Manga LNG Oy's contracts with other parties, including the gas suppliers.

International fluid handling specialist Hamworthy is to open a new dedicated service centre in Brazil. The new service center represents a direct investment in a market that has offered sustained growth for the company’s oil and gas handling systems and pump systems businesses in recent years. With offices in Rio and planned workshops and warehousing operations in Macae  it will support customers through easy access to spare parts from a domestic warehouse and qualified service personnel for all Hamworthy products, as well as related products and equipment installed onboard. The service centre will also offer assistance to domestic yards during the installation and commission stages of construction.

Hamworthy, the international fluid handling specialist, is highlighting its commitment to Brazil’s growing marine and offshore sectors in the run up to opening its first dedicated service centre in Brazil in 2011. Hamworthy’s commitment to offer strong technological solutions at competitive prices and to seek local product content has been strongly rewarded through a series of high profile orders for oil and gas handling systems. Hamworthy has an established presence in Brazil, offering products and services through its local agency, Tridente since the 1970s. Hamworthy Oil & Gas Systems was recently awarded a major contract by Brazilian…