Gas Fuel Systems News

American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), the provider of classification, technical, and regulatory services for the marine industry, launched the industry’s first LNG Cargo Ready notation.The development was announced at a joint event with GTT, highlighting progress towards delivering “LNG Cargo Ready” ethane carriers.The ABS LNG Cargo Ready notation confirms that an ethane carrier is capable of future modification to trade LNG cargoes. ABS is the first classification society to develop requirements and notations for ethane carriers that assist in assessing the level of LNG cargo readiness.The notation identifies potential barriers and assesses LNG capability of equipment and systems installed on the Very Large Ethane Carriers (VLEC).“As a global leader in gas…

American Ethane Company (AEC) is collaborating with ABS, the global provider of classification and technical advisory services to the marine and offshore industries, on a next generation fleet of Ultra Large Ethane Carriers (ULEC).ABS is actively supporting AEC and its shipping project partners, who will build, own and operate a fleet of ULECs to transport 7.2 MTPA of US ethane to China.“ABS is a world leader in the classification of gas carriers and classes the majority of the large ethane carriers built to date, so it is exciting to be working so closely with AEC, which has done so much to advance the industry,” said Patrick Janssens…

ABS, the global provider of classification and technical advisory services to the marine and offshore industries, announced that it is collaborating with South Korean shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) on a next generation LNG carrier in a joint development project (JDP) signed today at Gastech 2019.“ABS is a leader in gas carriers with a proud record of supporting innovation, delivering operational efficiencies and advancing the cause of safety. This exciting project with SHI for a state-of-the-art vessel represents the next step in that journey,” said Patrick Ryan, ABS Senior Vice President Engineering and Technology.“ABS classed the world’s first LNG carrier and today continues to lead global gas carrier classification…

ABS and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. (MOL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on up to 14 new gas carriers.The agreement covers seven new-build Very Large Ethane Carriers (VLEC) and up to seven new-build Liquefied Natural Gas Carriers (LNGC) designed to carry gas from the U.S. to China and other global markets.ABS will provide plan review, survey, inspection and other classification services for vessels, machinery and equipment as well as assist with managing the requirements for foreign flag carriers calling at U.S.

ABS Launches New Guide for Liquefied Gas Tank Barges with Remote Control and Monitoring of Essential Systems; outlines requirements for design and construction of unmanned barges equipped with various degrees of automation. ABS released guidance to assist shipyards and barge operators:  The Guide for Building and Classing Liquefied Gas Tank Barges with Remote Control and Monitoring of Essential Systems.The Guide provides requirements for the design and construction of barges equipped with various degrees of automation…

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…

Wärtsilä’s 31DF dual-fuel engine, which emphasizes outstanding efficiency, extremely economical fuel consumption and minimal emissions, has been selected to power a new polar ice-class luxury cruise vessel is being built for the France-based operator Ponant at Vard Søviknes, a part of VARD shipbuilding group in Norway.Because the 150-meter-long ship will operate in environmentally sensitive Arctic and Antarctic waters, it will operate primarily on LNG. Wärtsilä’s advanced technologies…

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…

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…

ABS, a leading provider of classification and technical services to the global marine and offshore industries, granted Approval in Principle (AIP) for a new very large ethane carrier (VLEC) concept developed by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co., Ltd. “As demand for different types of liquefied gases increases, concepts like this will expand the infrastructure and enable more efficient transportation to get products to market,” says ABS Vice President for Global Gas Solutions Patrick Janssens. The novel VLEC is equipped with a specialized membrane cargo containment system suited to carry liquid gas cargoes such as ethane and propane. Designed with a minimum cargo temperature of -94℃, the concept supports a low cargo boil-off rate.

ABS, a leading provider of classification and technical services to the marine and offshore industries, was selected by Q-LNG, LLC, to class an Articulated Tug Barge (ATB) for LNG bunkering in North America. The vessel is scheduled to begin construction at VT Halter Marine in Pascagoula, Mississippi, in early 2018. “This project represents another significant milestone for the region in the continued development of LNG infrastructure in North America, helping the maritime industry meet stricter emissions requirements,” says ABS Chairman, President and CEO, Christopher J. Wiernicki. “We chose ABS as our class partner for this project because of their extensive understanding of LNG as fuel and LNG bunkering applications,” says Q-LNG Transport President Chad Verret.

ABS, a leading provider of classification and technical services to the marine and offshore industries, and GasLog LNG Services (GasLog) have completed a joint development project demonstrating a new approach to evaluating LNG boil-off rate (BOR). GasLog is an international owner, operator and manager of LNG carriers, providing support to international energy companies as part of their LNG logistics chain. “By expanding the application of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis to simulate the LNG BOR in cargo tanks, owners are able to better predict boil-off gas and account for it in future designs and operations of LNG carriers,” says ABS Chief Technology Officer Howard Fireman. LNG boil-off gas is the vapor phase of LNG carried in a cargo tank.

The United States Maritime Resource announced that its training partner, Harvey Gulf International Marine, recently launched the PSV Harvey Energy, the first LNG-fueled vessel to enter service in North America. In March, the PSV Harvey Energy began working on charter to Shell in the Gulf of Mexico shortly after the vessel’s first successful LNG bunkering operation. Middletown, R.I.-based USMRC developed the LNG bunkering safety training course for Harvey Gulf in 2014 as it prepared to launch its first dual fuel offshore supply vessel.

The Pacific Merchant Shipping Association hosted The Future of Marine Fuels: Emission Control Area and Liquefied Natural Gas Conference in San Pedro, California on December 4, 2014. Representing the U.S. Coast Guard’s (USCG) Liquefied Gas Carrier National Center of Expertise (LGC NCOE) were Lt. Cmdr. Anthony Hillenbrand and Scott LaBurn. As a speaker and panelist, Hillenbrand addressed more than 50 industry, state and local agency representatives with comments focused on services provided by the LCG NCOE and the status of national policies regulating LNG fueled vessels and LNG bunkering processes. The LGC NCOE is one of six NCOEs nationwide focusing on providing consultation and technical services to the marine industry and Coast Guard on matters related to liquefied gas carriers…

With the IGF Code practically finalized, the introduction of sulphur limits and burgeoning infrastructure and production capability, LNG as a ship fuel is spreading rapidly through the maritime world. DNV GL’s new GAS READY notation gives owners, who at the new building stage want to prepare their vessel for a potential conversion to LNG operation after delivery, a useful framework for contracting. It provides a clear picture of the level of LNG fuelled preparedness of their vessel, as well as guidance on the scope of the contemplated work to all involved parties.

Drydocks World (DDW) based in Dubai, UAE, has contracted Wärtsilä to design and supply the propulsion and other equipment for a new harbour tug that will operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG). This will be the first harbour tug in the Middle East region to operate on gas. The order was signed in November. The 29-meter-long tug is the first of a series of nine such vessels to be built and operated by DDW. The project is part of a green initiative launched by the Dubai government, and is intended to set an example for promoting environmental sustainability throughout the region. "We are happy to work with Wärtsilä to promote a green image for our harbour work. Wärtsilä is a solution provider with vast experience and expertise in gas fuel systems.

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…

Classification society ABS said it has taken another step to meet industry needs with the formation of the ABS Global Gas Solutions Team to leverage the organization's LNG and LPG capabilities. This group of experienced gas professionals will work alongside owners, shipyards and equipment manufacturers to provide an extensive range of services to this growing market. "The discovery of new gas resources around the world and the exciting potential for wide-scale adoption of gas as a marine fuel are leading to a dynamic shift in the global marketplace," says ABS Chairman and CEO Christopher J.