Tag: Lloyds Register

ACTIB tanks will reduce sloshing and are suitable for widespread use for LNG containment Lloyd's Register has approved new prismatic IMO Type B independent cargo tanks, so called ACTIB (Aluminium Cargo Tank Independent Type B). The initial approval is for use in a DSME-developed 210,000 m3 STD LNG-RV design in accordance with LR's Guidance notes for liquefied gas carriers and floating offshore installations adopting IMO Type B independent tanks primarily constructed of plane surfaces.The approval in principal (AiP) follows a one year period of development and collaboration between DSME and Lloyd's Register. An evaluation for the next step - General Approval - has also been completed by Lloyd's Register.The ACTIB tanks, constructed of insulated aluminium 5083, will have the world's largest storage capacity in an independent, insulated LNG tank system. The volume capacity in the initial design will be nearly three times larger than comparable types currently in operation.One of the leading benefits of ACTIB is the potential for safe and more flexible operations in part filled conditions as the structural arrangement can be designed to withstand sloshing. So, as well as application in the DSME designed 210,000 m3 volume LNG carrier, the tank will be of particular interest for ...

Sea trials of algae-derived biodiesel are part of a ground-breaking fuels initiative by Lloyd's Register.One of the unique qualities of algae, which are plant-like organisms that grow in water such as seaweed, is that they can produce oils with molecular structures similar to petrol and refined hydrocarbon - which means they can help make gasoline, diesel and jet fuels, reveals the study."Certain algae can theoretically produce over 2,000 gallons of oil per acre a year - unlike first generation feedstocks such as soy beans which have an annual yield of only 50 gallons per acre," said Ed Fort, LR's Head of Marine Engineering Systems.Among the other fuels being studied by LR are liquid natural gas (LNG), hydrogen and the biofuels methanol and dimethylene (DME) which are derived from hydrocarbon feedstocks.Read 'The Great Fuel Debate' on pages 53-55 in the May issue of Horizons, Lloyd's Register's marine magazine.Source: Lloyd's Register

Ships will be buil on a joint class of RS and LR The South Korean shipyard STX Offshore and Shipbuilding began steel cutting for the first high-tech ship a series of four liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers.The ships will be built on a joint class of Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) and Lloyd's Register (LR) with the symbol KM (*) Ice2 AUT 1 OMBO EPP ANTI-ICE LI CCO ECO-S WINTERIZATION (-30) Gas carrier type 2G (methane) by order of "Sovcomflot" for "Gazprom Global LNG", acting as charterer. RS will act as the leading society.Membrane-type LNG carriers with a capacity of 170,000 cubic meters of liquefied gas will be equipped with a three-fuel diesel-electric propulsion plant, allowing to use LNG as fuel. The use of gas as fuel will significantly reduce emissions of NOx and SOx, which is a necessary requirement for modern ships within the tightening of international air emissions standards.Ships will be used for LNG carriage between the existing terminals, including year-round export of gas from Russia's first LNG terminal - "Sakhalin-2", and in the future - from the LNG terminal of the Shtokman gas condensate field.For the purposes of project development RS surveyors received special training at ...

Award for improving maritime safety or protecting the maritime environment The Royal National Lifeboat Institution's (RNLI) Engineering and Supply Department has won the 2011 RINA-LR Maritime Safety Award for their innovative work in ensuring and improving the safety of its lifeboats.The award, sponsored by the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) and Lloyd's Register, recognises that through innovation, the department provides for the safety of their volunteer crews, and those rescued each year by the institution.Trevor Blakeley, RINA's Chief Executive, said: "The institution is very pleased to join with Lloyd's Register in presenting this award which recognises the achievement of engineers in improving safety at sea and the protection of the maritime environment. The award places the emphasis on technological contribution, and provides an opportunity for any member of the global maritime industry to nominate a recipient for the award. There can be, perhaps, no greater recognition than that by one's peers. Those members of the maritime community who are aware of, or have even experienced it first hand, will applaud this recognition of the work of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution."The RINA-LR Maritime Safety Award was introduced in 2011, and is presented by LR and RINA to an individual, ...

Lloyd's Register Safety Alert In its Classification News No.12/2012, Lloyd's Register has issued a safety warning telling of a failure of the diaphragm fitted to the fuel excess pressure regulating valve actuator. The alert reads as follows:"Following an engine room fire on board a Lloyd's Register classed vessel (in way of the auxiliary engines), the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) concluded that the diaphragm fitted to the fuel excess pressure regulating valve actuator failed, resulting in pressurised fuel leaking onto an exposed high-temperature surface.Examination of the failed diaphragm revealed signs of excessive wear, creasing and some delamination of the rubber. There were also signs of tearing of the reinforcing fabric layer.The actuator diaphragm in the excess pressure regulating valve perished and ruptured as a result of prolonged exposure to marine fuel oils. The diaphragm rubber was made from ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) M-type synthetic rubber, which is unsuitable for use with oils.The standard Samson excess pressure regulating valve 2413 is supplied with a single EDPM diaphragm. Samson also provides oil-resistant fluorocarbon rubber (FPM) rubber diaphragms.Lloyd's Register recommendationLloyd's Register recommends that operators should verify that the diaphragms fitted to pressure regulating valve actuators used on fuel oil systems are checked ...

Effective from 1 August, 2012 The North American Emission Control Area for SOx and particulate matter (ECA-SOx) enters into effect on 1 August, 2012.From this date, the same requirements will apply as for the existing Baltic and North Sea ECA-SOx, including the requirements for recording data on entry and exit.The North American ECA-SOx covers three distinct areas:1.off the North American Atlantic/Gulf coasts;2.off the North American Pacific coast; and 3.around certain parts of Hawaii. It also includes the St Lawrence Seaway, the Great Lakes and rivers (such as the Mississippi) which are accessed by shipping.The ECA's exact co-ordinates are contained in the IMO Circular MEPC.1/Circ.723Ships operating in or entering the North American ECA-SOx on or after 1 August, 2012, will need to have on board sufficient compliant fuel oil (1.00% m/m maximum sulphur content) and bring it into use as required. Ships entering the ECA-SOx before this date will need to ensure that compliant fuel oil is brought into use no later than 00:00 hrs on 1 August, 2012.Lloyd's Register recommends that this fuel change-over is recorded in the same way as if the ship was entering an ECA.Source: Lloyd's Register

Growing commercial opportunities in the far north boost demand for customised shipping solutions The first dedicated set of rules for stern-first ice-class ships has just been published by Lloyd's Register, answering demand for technical support as industry continues to explore the potential of polar transportation routes and the new energy reserves in the far north.The timely release of the rules comes as more and more ships are being ordered with options such as podded propulsion systems and azimuthing thrusters - products that can improve icebreaking capability and reduce resistance -- allowing them to navigate stern first through ice."These practical rules are answering a growing demand in the market and include the use of standard operational scenarios to provide designers with a basis for prescriptive rule applications that have been validated with designers and operators of these specialist ships," said Robert Tustin, Lloyd's Register's Technical Manager for New Construction in Asia.Lloyd's Register has had a long involvement in the development of this class of ships. Mastera and Tempera - two 106,000 dwt "double-acting" tankers owned by Neste -- were built to its class in 2002 and 2003 at Sumitomo's yard in Japan. The ships were deployed to the Baltic, where they ...

Emission Control Areas: THE GUIDE Fathom and Lloyd's Register, the maritime classification society and independent risk management organization, have announced the launch of Emission Control Areas: THE GUIDE.Emission Control Areas, or ECAs, in Europe and North America are set to have a profound effect on how vessels are operated, including hugely impactful implications on the cost of fuels when operating within ECAs.The 111-page guide, which is accompanied by an onboard ECA manual, details the full scope of challenges of operating within an ECA, from analysis of compliance options to the practical steps of implementing ECA measures onboard, and capturing and recording data for Port State Control requirements.The 0.10 percent 2015 ECA sulphur emission requirements are approaching, and the August, 2012, 1.00 percent North American ECA is only months away. Yet, in some cases, ship owners and operators are still unsure of the operational practices required to meet the legislation; and, currently crews, when required to do so, are implementing these practices sporadically and without strategy. With the imminent North American ECA and the clock counting down to the more stringent requirements of 2015, Fathom and Lloyd's Register have worked to compile one comprehensive reference manual for what owners, operators and ...

Organised by Lloyds Register Lloyd's Register is offering Machinery Damage and Repair workshops to support marine superintendents and engineering personnel.Mechanical breakdowns are a serious problem for shipowners and having competent engineers on board can quite literally mean the difference between success and failure for a shipping company.The new workshops are unique to Lloyd's Register and give even the most experienced engineers the opportunity to analyse and resolve some the most common mechanical problems found in the merchant marine environment."The workshops are an innovative way to present real-life engineering problems with a variety of solutions in a controlled but time-pressured environment," said Steve Robson, Lloyd's Register's Senior Technical Training Specialist. "Attendees will be given the opportunity to use their skills and learn new ones in an environment that is designed to challenge and motivate."They will help delegates to develop the skills to make early assessments of mechanical damage and conduct timely repairs in a technically correct and cost-efficient way and in accordance with the appropriate classification rules and regulations for ships.There are three individual one-day workshops that can be booked separately to offer maximum flexibility to fit in with the busy schedules of engineering personnel.The courses are aimed at superintendents, flag ...

Rob Whillock discusses the classification and statutory considerations Rob Whillock discusses the classification and statutory considerations specific to vessels in the offshore wind industry.Rob discusses considerations specific to both wind turbine installation vessels, and service vessels, with particular reference to the SPS "special person" designation and whether we need to change SOLAS Chapter One.Rob also discusses the upcoming guidance notes to be released by Lloyd's Register.