Project aims to develop LNG fueled bulkers of the future

Called “Project Forward,” it aims to to develop a commercially feasible LNG-fueled dry bulk carrier design capable of complying with IMO’s Energy Efficiency Design Index 2025 standards, NOx Tier III and Marpol Annex VI SOx emission levels.

The project, which is led by Athens-based bulk carrier owner Arista Shipping, began officially in May this year.

“Project Forward aims to become a milestone for the shipping industry and in particular for owners and operators of cargo ships,” says Arista Shipping Principal Alexander P. Panagopulos. “Owners must decide within the next 5-10 years whether gas as fuel is a practical means of compliance with lower emissions standards and this project will enable all of us to understand its feasibility.”

The concept design will be based on the highly-optimized Deltamarin B.Delta design suitable for ships between 82,000 and 210,000 dwt. It will employ GTT’s membrane-type LNG tanks for fuel containment.

“Compliance with stricter environmental regulations has led owners to consider the potential of using LNG as fuel for cargo vessel newbuildings,” states Deltamarin Managing Director Mika Laurilehto. “There is a clear need to turn this potential into a proven solution for the dry bulk carriers that make up such a large proportion of the world fleet.”

The project will also address the existing dry bulk fleet by developing a modularized LNG fuel retrofit solution for bulk carriers of various sizes.

ABS will conduct concept and detail design approvals according to its rules for bulk carriers and gas-powered ships.

“ABS has gained valuable insights from real-world experience classing the world’s first deepsea ships powered by LNG,” says ABS Vice President of Global Gas Solutions Patrick Janssens. “Our work with owners, designers and shipyards on LNG as fuel and LNG-ready projects brings unique value to Project Forward in enabling the safe adoption of this new fuel type.”

Project Forward will include a number of stages, with a first time horizon of two years’ applied research and development work.

Initial research indicates that the expected emission reductions from Project Forward could be 40% for CO2, 80% for NOx and 98% for SOx.

“It is time for the shipping industry to move forward and embrace the potential of gas-fueled merchant ships,” says GTT Vice President LNG as Fuel division Jacques Danton. “At this time, we can recognize market leaders launching LNG projects now in order to be the first on the learning curve. During the ramp up phase of LNG as fuel, autonomy will be a key feature for integrated solutions as provided by membrane technology.”

Harvey Gulf takes delivery of second LNG fueled OSV

The vessel is already in service under a five year contract working for Shell Upstream America’s deep water operations in the Gulf of Mexico.

Like her sistership Harvey Energy, Harvey Power is capable of operating on LNG or diesel fuel and also meets the criteria of the ABS Enviro+, Green Passport notation.

When operating on 99% LNG, the dual fuel vessels exceed the requirements of the new EPA Tier IV for reductions of SOX and NOX emissions within the North American ECA can operate in excess of 19 days in normal GOM rig supply mode between refuelings.

Harvey Power will refuel with LNG at Harvey Gulf’s new LNG bunkering facility at Port Fourchon in southern Louisiana, which allows easy access to more than 600 oil and gas rigs and platforms within a 40-mile radius.

Harvey Power is a 310′ x 64′ x 24.5′ platform supply vessel powered by three Wärtsilä 6L34DF dual fuel gensets, providing 7.5 MW of power and fueled by a Wartsila provided LNGPac system.

With 5,219 metric tons of deadweight the vessel is capable of carrying 253,000 USG of fuel oil, 18,000 bbls of liquid mud, 1,600 bbls of methanol, 10,250 cu.ft of dry cement and 73,000 USG of LNG fuel.

When operating on LNG the Harvey Power can operate in excess of 19 days in normal GOM rig supply mode between refueling.

The acquisition of Gulf Coast Shipyard Group by a new Harvey Gulf International Marine affiliate, Harvey Shipyard Group, was announced back in June.

The shipbuilder’s new COO, Marvin Serna, says that new protocols and operational improvements he has put in place are yielding results, such as a 45 day reduction in the commissioning time of the second vessel in comparison with the first.

Harvey Gulf has four more vessels under construction with Gulf Coast Shipyard Group and is confident the shipyard can maintain the high quality of construction while continuing to improve on construction techniques resulting in shorter delivery times.

Mr. Shane Guidry, Chairman and CEO of Harvey Gulf, says: “This is our second vessel capable of operating on LNG and is a testimony of Harvey Gulf’s commitment to its customers and the environment to provide the most affordable, innovative, environmentally-friendly technical solutions to meet their business demands.”

ME-GI for first Crowley ConRo passes milestone test

The engine is the first of two 8S70ME-C8.2-GI units for delivery to VT Halter Marine, Pascagoula, MS, for installation in the two 2,400 TEU ConRo ships it is building for Crowley Maritime Corporation.

The vessels will be two of the world’s first LNG-powered ConRo ships, with container Lift-on/Lift-off (LO/LO) and vehicle Roll-on/Roll-off (RO/RO) loading. Designed to travel at speeds up to 22 knots, they will be 219.5 m long, 32.3 m wide and have a deep draft of 10 m. In addition to carrying 2,400 TEU of containers they will be able to carry nearly 400 vehicles in an enclosed Roll-on/Roll-off garage.

Crowley ordered the ME-GI engines, along with three MAN 9L28/32DF auxiliary engines for each vessel, in early-2014. The company selected the high-pressure, Diesel-cycle ME-GI engines because of their high efficiency and power concentration. The ME-GI’s ability to avoid derating, and its negligible methane slip, also contributed to its selection.

Crowley reports that the newbuildings will reduce the amount of CO2 emissions attributable to each container by approximately 38%.

The ships will meet or exceed all regulatory requirements and will have the CLEAN notation, which requires limitation of operational emissions and discharges, as well as the Green Passport, both issued by DNV GL.

The ME-GI engine

The ME-GI engine is the culmination of many years’ work, and gives shipowners and operators the option of utilizing fuel or gas depending on relative price and availability, as well as environmental considerations.

The ME-GI uses high-pressure gas injection that allows it to maintain the numerous positive attributes of MAN B&W low-speed engines that have made them the default choice of the maritime community. The ME-GI is not affected by the multiple de-ratings, fuel-quality adjustments or large methane-slip issues that have been seen with other dual-fuel solutions.

MAN Diesel & Turbo sees significant opportunities ahead for gas-fueled tonnage as fuel prices rise and exhaust emission limits tighten. Research indicates that the ME-GI engine delivers significant reductions in CO2, NOx and SOx emissions. Its negligible methane slip makes it even more environmentally friendly

An ME-LGI counterpart that uses LPG, methanol and other liquid gases is also available, and has already been ordered.
Factory Acceptance Test attendees pictured in front of the ME-GI engine at MES’s Tamano Works

Singapore takes another step toward LNG bunkering

This week the MPA took another step toward the planned early 2017 launch of the LNG Bunkering Pilot Program (LBPP) which is aimed at developing Singapore as a key LNG bunkering hub in Asia.

The Port of Singapore is inviting interested companies to tap into Singapore $12 million available from the MPA’s Maritime Innovation & Technology Fund for the building of LNG-fueled vessels. The MPA will provide up to Singapore $2 million (about US$ 1.4 million) per vessel, capped at two successful funding applications per company.

Companies must be incorporated in Singapore, and the funded vessels must be flagged under the Singapore Registry or licensed for activity in Port of Singapore for a period of at least five years.

MPA has been collaborating closely with partner agencies, industry stakeholders and technical experts, to develop LNG bunkering standards, procedures and infrastructures.  On July 28 it announced its Request for Proposal (RFP) for interested parties to apply for an LNG bunker supplier license allowing the them to supply LNG bunkers to vessels in the Port of Singapore.

Crowley helps provide LNG training in Jacksonville

The the first-of-its-kind training was developed by the Gas Technology Institute (GTI) in conjunction with the Florida State College  specifically for Port of Jacksonville stakeholders including Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Departments, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville and area law enforcement.

The Jacksonville Marine Transportation Exchange (JMTX) worked closely with U.S. Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville to seek out potential members of the funding collaborative and get support from representatives of the local Area Contingency Planning (ACP) community.

Crowley was one of several Gas Technology Institute (GTI) funding collaborators taking part. As Crowley currently supplies LNG to Puerto Rico via barge and will take delivery of two LNG fueled ConRo ships in 2017, the company was proactive in participating in the training endeavor.

“As a company, we take safety very seriously,” said Crowley VP Cole Cosgrove. “As we and other companies in the Jacksonville area continue to embrace the LNG market, it’s of utmost importance that we work with our local community to make sure we are all educated in safe handling of this new, environmentally beneficial marine fuel. This training was a first step to ensure all stakeholders have a unified approach to emergency response and clean-up should we ever experience an incident.”

Training attendees were introduced to the basic characteristics and properties of LNG, its usefulness as a fuel, its hazards and safety precautions to take when working around the product. The group also learned basic and advanced firefighting techniques including identification of ignition sources, and what types of extinguishing agents exist and when to use them in varying situations.

On completion, attendees satisfied basic LNG awareness  requirements as defined by the U.S. Coast Guard’s Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW).

“The goal of this training is to keep the excellent safety record maintained by the marine transport of LNG in the past and apply it to the safe bunkering process as we fuel new LNG fueled vessels into the future,” said Mark Marien, Crowley’s manager, regulatory training.

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