ABS at Forefront of Technical Issues for LNG Carriers
With the liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade expected to significantly increase over the next decade, transporting LNG with carriers upwards of 33 percent larger than previous designs means particular attention must be addressed to key technical concerns to assure that the new generation of larger LNG carriers provides the same high degree of reliability as its predecessors. Operators are driving the demand for increased size of these specialized vessels to take advantage of the economies of scale. “By increasing the size of the standard LNG carrier from about 145,000m3 (cubic meters) to 200,000m3 and even larger, it is estimated that there could be a reduction in transportation costs by as much as 15 percent,” says ABS Senior Consultant, Energy Project Development Group, James Gaughan.
Gas Ships: Large LNG Carriers ABS Addresses Tech Concerns
As the LNG trade significantly increase over the next decade, transporting the fuel in ever larger, more sophisticated ships means particular attention must be paid to technical issues to ensure the present and long-term viability of the new generation of larger LNG carriers. Operators continue driving the demand for larger LNG ships to take advantage of the economies of scale. "By increasing the size of the standard LNG carrier from about 145,000 to 200,000 cu. m. and even larger, it is estimated that there could be a reduction in transportation costs by as much as 15 percent," said James Gaughan, ABS Senior Consultant, Energy Project Development Group. Another advantage with larger LNG ship designs is a reduction in the amount of cargo boiled off as a percentage of volume.
ABS Provides Comprehensive Criteria For LNG Propulsion Systems
The surge in liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier newbuildings and the accompanying development of a new generation of these specialized ships has generated interest in alternative propulsion systems to the traditional gas fired steam plant. These alternatives are addressed in the new ABS Guide for Propulsion Systems for LNG Carriers, the first such comprehensive set of standards to have been issued by a classification society. Currently several type of propulsion configurations are being ordered with others yet being planned. At the heart of the differing propulsion systems debate is economics together with safety concerns over the manner in which boil off gas (BOG) is treated.
