Gas Stream News

On January 1, 2015, the IMO Annex VI, ECA zone requirements came into effect. Ship owners and operators are now faced with having to decide between switching to a lower sulfur fuel or embracing alternate solutions such as exhaust gas cleaning systems (Scrubbers) and LNG. Worldwide, about 300 scrubbing systems have already been sold to date for marine applications. Many of these have been sold for vessels operating in the North European ECA and many for the global cruise/ferry industry (both in the US and Europe). The U.S.

The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) will host its sixth technical meeting for the 2013-2014 season Thursday, February 20, 2014 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of Maran and Alpha Tankers, 354 Syngrou Ave., Kallithea, Athens. During the meeting, Dr.-Ing. Ioannis Vlaskos, Global Market Sector Director- Marine, Director – Large Engines & Gas Engines at Ricardo, Deutschland will speak on the subject of ‘‘Waste Heat Recovery in Marine Propulsion Systems’’. Recovery of waste heat from marine engines is an important option for reducing the environmental footprint of ships.

ABB Turbocharging reported two achievements with turbochargers from the A100 family. The first A100 achievement is a new efficiency record. In final testing of the A190-L turbocharger for two -stroke low speed diesels, ABB technicians measured peak efficiency at 75.8%. “The 75.8% figure is all the more impressive because it was measured on a turbocharger featuring a higher pressure ratio than the model that achieved the previous record figure,” said Urs Gribi, Vice President of Engineering at the Baden, Switzerland headquarters of ABB Turbocharging.

On August 24, one of the world’s most profiled platforms turned 15. Sleipner, also known as the carbon dioxide (CO2) platform, does not look its age. Sleipner had a tough start. The construction of the first installation became one of the most dramatic in Norwegian oil history. Shortly before the deck and the concrete substructure for the Sleipner A platform were to be connected, the substructure sank to 200 metres depth in the Gands fiord. With good assistance from Norwegian Contractors…

The Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) announces 15 winners for its inaugural Spotlight on New Technology Program. These winners are recognized before, during and after the 35th annual OTC, 3-6 May, Reliant Center at Reliant Park in Houston. New Technology program, " said Rod Allan, OTC .04 Chairman. Applications for the Spotlight on New Technology were distributed at OTC .03 and were due 9 January 2004. Submissions had to meet four criteria: new and innovative, proven, broad interest, and significant impact. Winners will be recognized on site at this year's conference, scheduled May 3-6, on the exhibition floor and in the registration area. Spotlight on New Technology will continue as an annual recognition program coinciding with OTC.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved an innovative new liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal and related facilities proposed by Ingleside Energy Center and San Patricio Pipeline to be located in San Patricio County, Texas. The Commission granted Ingleside Energy Center authority under Section 3 of the Natural Gas Act to construct a new terminal designed to provide an option for extracting natural gas liquids in addition to importing, storing and vaporizing one billion cubic feet (Bcf) of gas per day. The project would be constructed on the shoreline of Corpus Christi Bay near Ingleside, Texas, on a site owned by the applicants’ parent company, Occidental Chemical Corp. “I congratulate the Commission staff for processing this application so expeditiously.

For years, general manufacturing companies have enjoyed the benefit of laser cutting systems for producing complex or simple parts in batch volumes as low as one, and as high as tens of thousands. The laser is an incredibly powerful tool that remains unsurpassed in manufacturing activities across the world. As flexible and reconfigurable production tool that provides welding, cutting and machining capabilities in a single device, lasers are readily automated and have demonstrated that they can easily operate in "lights-out" mode for even greater productivity. With all this said, why aren't there any laser shipyards? Why hasn't one of the worlds largest and most important transportation industries rushed to implement laser cutting and welding technology?