Gas Carriers News

ABS signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Korea Marine Equipment Research Institute (KOMERI) to create a new facility dedicated to improving the safety of LNG as fuel.ABS and KOMERI will collaborate on research at the shoreside facility, which will allow shipowners to safely test fuel gas and bunkering systems, under actual loading conditions, prior to installation onboard.“ABS is proud to partner with KOMERI on this important facility, which will help ensure safe and effective testing of new equipment and ultimately advance adoption of LNG…

France's Gaztransport & Technigaz (GTT) announced that it has received a new order from a Korean shipyard, Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), for the design of the tanks of a new LNG tanker with a capacity of 174,000 m3 , on behalf of the Greek shipowner Minerva.The specialist in cryogenic containment systems said in a press release that the tanks of this unit, used for the LNG transportation, will be fitted with the Mark III Flex+ membrane containment system developed by GTT, offering a guaranteed boil-off rate of 0.07% of tank volume/day.

Kuwait Oil Tanker Co. (KOTC), a subsidiary of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, has ordered three giant liquefied petroleum gas tankers (LPG) from Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), the South Korean shipbuilding giant.According to the government's media outlet Kuwait New Agency (KUNA), the order for very large gas carrier (VLGC) is worth KD 64.8 million (around USD 213.3 million).KUNA quoted CEO of KOTC Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled Al-Sabah as saying that the VLGC-LPG gas tankers are part of a tanker-building contract signed with HHI…

The Middle East is the most active export market of LPG exports on very large gas carriers(VLGC), said Norway-based LPG shipping firm Avance Gas.Oslo-listed Avance Gas said in a statement that traditionally Saudi Arabia was the largest exporter, but though growing LNG production from mid-2000 combined with increased petrochemical use of LPG in Saudi Arabia, resulted in Qatar and UAE becoming the largest exporters.Today Qatar and UAE each export about 10 million tons annually, Saudi Arabia 8-9 million tons and Kuwait 4-5 million tons.

The sulfur emission control areas (SECAs) in place in North-America and Northern Europe, in combination with the upcoming global 0.5% limit on sulfur in 2020 (or 2025) and similar EU limits in 2020, call for alternative fuels as a means for compliance. Several alternative fuels are available and, at the same time, new fuel oil products with very low sulfur content have been introduced.In this respect, the ability of the new MAN ME-LGIP engine to run on LPG, which is a sulfur-free fuel…

BW LPG Limited (BW LPG) announced that it has withdrawn its proposal to combine with Dorian LPG Ltd. (Dorian). BW LPG will also withdraw the candidates it previously intended to nominate to stand for election to the Dorian board at Dorian’s 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.BW LPG also announced that the following letter has been sent on October 8, 2018 to the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dorian:Mr. John HadjipaterasChairman, President and Chief Executive OfficerDorian LPG Ltd.c/o Dorian LPG (USA) LLC27 Signal RoadStamford…

ABS has granted Approval in Principle (AIP) for the LNG Jumbo, a new 175,000 CBM liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier design from Chinese shipbuilder Jiangnan Shipyard (Group) Co.The efficient, environmentally friendly design features the GTT MK III Flex Cargo Containment System developed in cooperation with ship designer MARIC.The LNG Jumbo design specifies a WINGD X-DF low-pressure, low-speed two-stroke dual-fuel main engine propulsion system promising enhanced propulsion efficiency and reduced fuel consumption, combined with additional energy saving devices.

GTT has signed a Technical Assistance and License Agreement (TALA) with South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD) targeting the outfitting of gas carriers, in particular small and middle scale (up to 50,000 m3) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel tanks for merchant ships.Hyundai Mipo obtained its license after completing a qualification process that began in April 2018, including the construction of a Mark III Flex mockup and an audit lead by GTT.The shipyard is now the third among the Hyundai group to be licensed by GTT. The two other construction sites, Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries, have been…

Wärtsilä will provide an integrated cargo handling and fuel gas system for two new liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers for Belgium-based owner Exmar. The 80,000m³ very large gas carriers are being built at HHIC-Philippines (Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction Philippines) in Subic Bay, and will be the first vessels capable of running on LPG, according to Wärtsilä, who secured the order in July 2018.Wärtsilä, which offers ‘LPG as fuel’ as a fully integrated part of the cargo handling system…

GTT said it received an order from the Korean shipyard Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) concerning the tank design of four new liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers which will be built on behalf of the Greek ship-owner Capital Gas Carriers.GTT's Mark III Flex technology has been selected to equip the LNG tanks of these four 174,000 m3 ships. The delivery of these vessels is scheduled between the end of 2020 and mid-2021.

MAN Energy Solutions has announced the first retrofit orders for its new MAN B&W ME-LGIP LGP-powered engine.The contract with Oslo-listed BW LPG involves the world’s first retrofitting of four MAN B&W 6G60ME-C9.2 HFO-burning engines to 6G60ME-C9.5-LGIP LPG-propelled dual-fuel engines, plus options for further retrofits in the future. BW LPG expects the first retrofitting to take place in conjunction with scheduled drydockings, starting 2020.The deal was signed in advance of the official launch of the MAN B&W ME-LGIP engine in Copenhagen on Monday…

A consortium of maritime industry stakeholders has set out to develop a higher performing and more environmentally efficient container vessel. The group, which is led by Dubai based Zaitoun Green Shipping Ltd (ZGS), also aims at creating a new business model for the container sector.The seven companies making up the consortium are each established experts in their own fields. The parties have agreed to establish a team where each member company has an important role to play in…

BWMS, Scrubber Install Outlook is GoodOperating since 2011, Qatar’s Nakilat-Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd (N-KOM) offers a range of repair, conversion, maintenance and fabrication services to marine, offshore and onshore industry. The shipyard has delivered in excess of 800 marine and offshore projects to date, of which 20% is made up of LNG carrier repairs. In comparison to the first half of 2017, the year 2018 has a marked increase in volume about 25% in terms of repairs and other works.

Greece-based DryShips announced that it has entered into an agreement with an unaffiliated buyer for the sale of one of its 2001-built Panamax drybulk carrier.The vessel is scheduled for delivery to its buyer no later than the end of this month.The diversified owner and operator of ocean going cargo vessels expects to realize a gain on vessels sales compared to the book value of this asset.DryShips operates worldwide. As of August 15, 2018, and not giving effect to any pending vessel transactions…

The world's second largest ship registry said it is looking to advance its position as the largest registry of gas carriers and expand its footprint in the transportation and processing of liquefied gases with the formation of a dedicated gas experts team.The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Registry said its new Worldwide Gas Team is comprised of experts in the design, technical management, inspection and commercial operation of gas carriers. The group is able to provide guidance from inspection and registration to technical issues and regulatory challenges…

Forth Ports, the UK’s third largest port group, has officially welcomed two new multimillion pound vessels to join their fleet of tugs and pilot boats working on the River Forth.The GBP 6 million investment in the two vessels to work on Scotland’s largest waterway sees the arrival of a powerful Sanmar tug and a state-of-the-art pilot boat from Holyhead Marine.The tug was built by leading ship builder Sanmar, is 28 metres long with two engines producing 2,700 brake horsepower and a bollard pull of 70 tonnes. It also has fire-fighting capabilities.

Long a staple for offshore service providers, a more compact and carefully designed version of the diesel electric option is now available for inland pushboats. For budget conscious operators (and who isn’t, in this environment?), the stars may finally be aligned.For many years, electric propulsion has proven to be a viable propulsion solution for many different types of vessels. Most familiar to workboat stakeholders would be the advent of the ‘diesel electric’ offshore serve providers (OSV) that became commonplace during the offshore boom era.

Dorian LPG confirmed that Oslo-based BW LPG BW LPG  has submitted the names of three director candidates to stand for election at Dorian's 2018 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders. Dorian LPG, is a fully-integrated liquefied petroleum gas shipping company and the owner and operator of a large fleet of 22 modern very large gas carriers, has previously received a revised unsolicited proposal from BW LPG to combine with Dorian.Dorian's Board of Directors will review all of BW LPG's actions and respond as appropriate in due course.

Norway's BW LPG, the world's largest liquid petroleum gas shipper, raised its offer to buy rival Dorian LPG on Monday after its first advance was rebuffed.BW offered Dorian shareholders 2.12 BW LPG shares for each Dorian share, up from 2.05 BW LPG shares in an initial offer made on May 29.BW LPG said the offer represents a value of $8.67 per Dorian share.

Classification society ClassNK has released its Guidelines for Liquefied Gas Carrier Structures – Independent Prismatic Tanks (Second Edition), which specify the technical requirements specifically related to the structural strength assessments of liquefied gas carriers by using direct calculation.The two components of the Guidelines include the Guidelines for Direct Strength Analysis, and the Guidelines for Fatigue Strength Assessment. The newly released Second Edition contains…

ABS has confirmed  that the ABS-classed Diamond Gas Orchid, the world’s first "Sayaringo STaGE" next generation LNG carrier, has been delivered to Diamond LNG Shipping, a joint venture between Mitsubishi Corporation and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK). Ordered by Diamond LNG Shipping through MI LNG Company, Ltd., constructed by Nagasaki-based Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Marine Structure Co., Ltd. and delivered by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., the innovative carrier introduces…

DryShips announced that it has entered into agreements with unaffiliated buyers, for the sale of two of its older Panamax drybulk carriers, built in 2002. The diversified owner and operator of ocean going cargo vessels said that the sale took place for an aggregate gross sales price of $18.8 million. The vessels are scheduled for delivery to their buyers during the third quarter of 2018. The Company is a diversified owner and operator of ocean going cargo vessels that operate worldwide.

Spirit of British Columbia, one of two BC Ferries vessels that will use liquefied natural gas (LNG) as fuel, has finished conversion at the Remontowa Ship Repair Yard S.A. in Gdansk, Poland and has returned to service for the Canadian operator.The 1993-built ro-pax ferry Spirit of British Columbia was the first to undergo conversion while its sister vessel, the Spirit of Vancouver Island, is expected to complete conversion during the spring of 2019. The 550-foot ABS-classed vessels are the largest ships in the BC Ferries fleet with a capacity to carry 2…