Linde Group to Supply Reliquefaction Equipment for New Fleet of LNG Carriers

Cryostar has won an order from Samsung Heavy Industries totalling over $50m. As part of this order, Cryostar will supply on-board boil-off gas reliquefaction plants for five LNG tankers to be built by 2008. The modern membrane carriers with a cargo capacity of 265,000 cubic meters will be the largest ever built and are destined for LNG trade between Qatar and the U.S.A.

The larger the vessel, the more important the boil-off gas management for the LNG. It is stored on board at -163° C, in order to ensure that the maximum cargo is delivered. Cryostar, who provide both the reliquefaction process design and the majority of cryogenic equipment, developed the plant's unique low power consumption technology. The on-board reliquefaction of boil-off gas on LNG tankers with slow speed diesel propulsion makes these carriers highly economic for long distance travel. Thanks to its low CO2 emission, this propulsion concept is also more environmentally friendly than conventional steam propulsion, where the boil-off gas is burned together with heavy fuel oil in boilers.