New LNG Ships To Be Built to Lloyd’s Environmental Standard

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) is applying the Lloyd's Register Environmental Protection notation to four LNG ships under construction at its Nagasaki yard. This is the first time this stringent environmental standard has been applied to either LNG or Japanese built ships. Compliance with Lloyd’s Register’s Environmental Protection standard is voluntary. It is for the environmentally conscious owner who wants to manage environmental performance more effectively, and be able to demonstrate it. The notation promotes a standard of environmental performance beyond that covered by ISM and MARPOL, both in terms of design and the on-going operation of the ship. The first ship, Abadi, a joint venture between the Brunei Government, Mitsubishi Corporation and Shell, is due to be completed in June 2002. The remaining three, Galea, Gallina and Gemmata, are scheduled for delivery from September 2002 through to May 2004 and will all be delivered to Shell. Lloyd’s Register has worked closely with the MHI design team to help achieve compliance with the design requirements for the notation. Principal Surveyor for Western Japan, John Finch said: ”There is an ever increasing amount of both public and industry pressure on owners to demonstrate that ships are environmentally sound. Both MHI and Shell’s proactive efforts clearly demonstrate their foresight and commitment to the environment.“ To be awarded the Environmental Protection notation, all vessels are required to undergo a comprehensive process of plan appraisal, survey and audit to demonstrate compliance with requirements for: · NOx and SOx exhaust emission levels · refrigeration gases and fire fighting systems · oil pollution prevention · garbage management · sewage treatment · hull anti-fouling systems · ballast water management.