Tag: LNG

The European Parliament and Council are meeting in a so-called "trilogue" on the Clean Fuel Strategy to reach a compromise and find a solution on the outstanding issues. If necessary, another trilogue is foreseen in two weeks time. If an agreement can be found, it can be endorsed by the Parliament before the elections. ESPO fully supports the Clean Fuel Strategy proposal as a way to promote and enhance the use of alternative fuels as a means to further improve as much as possible the environmental footprint of the different modes of transport. "This strategy is important because it sets out a plan for Member States and stakeholders to work towards alternative fuels. We hope that this strategy is finalised soon, in view of giving the different stakeholders a clear sign on where to go and allowing them to start or continue working towards that goal. We therefore urge the Parliament and the Council to do everything possible to reach a first reading agreement", says ESPO's Secretary-General Isabelle Ryckbost. Two of the issues under discussion are of importance for seaports: the deadline for the provision of LNG refuelling points in core network ports and the conditions under which shore side ...

Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) signed an agreement with Baku Shipyard LLC of Azerbaijan for the design approval of project 38М сrew boat high speed craft (designer - SHIPTECH, Singapore). The new boats are intended for the carriage of specialised personnel employed at offshore oil and gas facilities. The boats will be one of the first orders placed with the newly built shipyard in Baku. Under the terms of the design approval agreement, the RS experts are to review the design documentation of five ships under construction for compliance with the new RS requirements as well as other RS applicable normative documents and also, with statutory requirements coming within the terms of RS reference. The new boats will be constructed as part of the Azerbaijan state programme for fleet renovation. The launch of the construction is planned for April-May 2014. The series is commissioned by the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR). In total, it is planned to build 10 boats. The new RS requirements specially worked out for this ship type will be applied for the first time during the 38М сrew boat design development. If the boats comply with the new RS requirements (effective since January ...

Fireworks marked the first cut of steel in a ceremony last night as construction of TOTE, Inc.'s new Marlin Class, the first liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered containership in the world, began at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego, Calif. "These ships, will be the most advanced, environmentally progressive vessels of their kind," state Representative Duncan Hunter (R-CA), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation said, "but they also represent $350 million in U.S. investment, 600 American shipyard jobs, and the bright future of the indispensable domestic maritime industry." TOTE's back to back announcements in 2012 - converting its existing RO/RO fleet in Alaska and investing in new containerships for the Puerto Rico trade, began what can only be described as a change of tide in the U.S. maritime industry toward LNG as the new maritime fuel. ­ Clean burning, LNG offers unmatched environmental benefits, reducing emissions below even the world's most stringent standards. The new Marlin class will create a reduction of sulfur dioxide (SOx) emissions by 98 percent, particulate matter (PM) by 99 percent, nitrous oxide (NOx) and carbon dioxide (CO2) by 71 percent over TOTE's ships currently operating in Puerto Rico. "The ...

Jensen Maritime, Crowley Maritime Corp.'s Seattle-based naval architecture and marine engineering company, has been awarded a contract to design some of the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunker barges in the U.S. for customer LNG America LLC, a Houston-based LNG fuel supply and distribution company. Currently no LNG bunkering barges are in operation in American waterways and these vessels will be among the first to be developed and built, marking a significant step in LNG America's build-out of LNG bunkering infrastructure along the U.S. Gulf Coast and in delivering a new clean fuel to the maritime industry. The vessels, which are expected to deliver in late 2015, have an initial planned capacity of up to 3,000 cubic meters of LNG.  Once in operation, the bunker barges will serve the dual purpose of moving LNG from LNG America's Louisiana supply source to coastal-based storage and distribution terminals and in directly bunkering large ships. "Through LNG America's LNG bunkering initiative, we plan to serve and facilitate the growing marine demand for LNG," said Keith Meyer, CEO of LNG America. "LNG America sees the demand for marine LNG to be robust as long as LNG can be made available to the maritime industry on ...

Totem Ocean Trailer Express (Totem Ocean) has announced that Wärtsilä will supply main engines, generators and integrated LNG storage and fuel gas handling systems (LNGPac) for the largest LNG conversions ever undertaken in North America. In making this decision John Parrott, President of Totem Ocean, cited Wärtsilä's proven technology as a deciding factor in selecting the company. Mr Parrott emphasized that "maintaining reliable, on time service is critical to Totem Ocean's customers as well as the economy and citizens of Alaska." The contract was signed in the fourth quarter of 2013, and executives from both companies met on February 17, 2014 in Tacoma, Washington to announce the project. "Today marks the beginning of a long relationship between our two companies," said Parrott. "Our relationship will outlast this project to extend over the 35-plus year life of our vessels." Totem Ocean's fleet of two Orca Class roll-on/roll-off cargo ships - M.V. Midnight Sun and M.V. North Star transport about one-third of all the goods required by the inhabitants of Alaska. Cargo includes essential items such as food, household goods, vehicles, construction materials and military supply support. As a result of the conversion, the Totem Ocean vessels will set new standards for ...

The world's first LNG driven tugboat (as claimed by port of Zeebrugge), the M/T Borgoy arrived in the port of Zeebrugge for a bunkering operation. The ‘truck to ship' bunkering operation was the first to be performed in the Flemish coastal port. The maritime sector is confronted with strict emission regulations, which results in an interest for LNG as a maritime fuel. This tug boat emits nearly 30 percent less CO2 and up to 90 percent less NOx and fine dust than conventionally-powered tugs. M/T Borgoy is the first of two identical tug boats ordered by the Norwegian BUBE (Buksér og Berging AS). The tug has left the Sanmar shipyard in Turkey and has set sail for Karsto in Norway to begin her long term operational contract for Statoil. To fuel up on LNG for her maiden trip, the ship makes halt in the port of Zeebrugge. The LNG fuelling operation was executed ‘Truck to Ship'. An LNG-filled trailer is then positioned alongside the quay and is connected with the ships fuel tank. For the port of Zeebrugge, this is an absolute premier. Joachim Coens, CEO Port of Zeebrugge: "This bunkering operation is of the greatest importance to the port ...

Swedish shipping company Erik Thun A.B. has granted Shipyard Ferus Smit the order for building an LNG powered cargo vessel, with 2 more units on option. The first vessel will be delivered in autumn 2015 from the yard in Westerbroek, Groningen. The Thun shipping company has a strong market position in Northern Europe and the Baltic area. To further strengthen her position as ‘green' fleet with the new SECA rules coming into force in 2015 for the Baltic, Thun believes LNG will be the way forward. For Ferus Smit shipyards it is a great challenge to build the first LNG powered short-sea dry cargo vessels to date. Many concepts and studies have been above the market already, but it will be down to the long-term cooperation between yard and ship owner to work out  viable solutions that can be profitable in daily use. The ships will be bulk oriented general cargo vessels sizing 5800 DWT, with the option to convert them into self-unloaders. They will be of iceclass 1A and suitable for year-round Baltic service. The vessels will be equipped with a Wartsila Dual fuel main engine and a pressurized LNG tank enabling round trips of abt. 2 weeks. Classification ...

Pivotal LNG, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of AGL Resources and WesPac Midstream LLC announced they have been selected by TOTE, Inc. to provide liquefied natural gas to fuel TOTE's two new state-of-the-art container ships in Jacksonville, Fla. TOTE's new dual fuel LNG container ships are expected to be delivered to the port in Jacksonville in late 2015 and early 2016. To move forward on this project, Pivotal LNG, Inc., WesPac and TOTE have signed a letter of intent and are working toward definitive agreements. While there is still work to be done, Pivotal LNG, Inc. and WesPac plan to work together on this project to create a joint venture which will develop a new liquefied natural gas plant in Jacksonville, Fla. "We are very pleased to have been selected by TOTE to supply their two new LNG container ships. We look forward to working with TOTE and WesPac to develop opportunities that help meet the growing demand for LNG as an alternative fuel solution in the Jacksonville area," said Stephen Cittadine, president of Pivotal LNG. AGL Resources, the parent company of Pivotal LNG, has more than four decades of experience in providing customers with clean, abundant, cost-effective LNG fuel. ...

In order to tap into Colombian stranded gas reserves, Pacific Rubiales Energy Corporation and EXMAR nv have partnered in a project to build and operate a floating LNG liquefaction, and storage unit, the Caribbean FLNG, which will be stationed at a jetty several kilometers off the Caribbean coast of Colombia for at least 15 years. In order to protect the hull of the Caribbean FLNG, keep it clean and facilitate class inspections over that time period without recourse to drydock and without causing harm to the local marine environment, EXMAR has applied an innovative glassflake, non-toxic, longlasting hull coating system, Ecospeed, on the vessel’s hull. EXMAR is a pioneer in offshore processing and storage solutions and this unit, the first of its kind ever to be built, presages a breakthrough in stranded gas monetization for the offshore oil and gas industry which promises to have worldwide application. LNG and stranded gas For economic and environmental reasons, global demand for natural gas as an alternative source of energy to traditional fossil fuels such as oil and coal has surged in recent years. Natural gas burns cleaner and therefore is responsible for reduced noxious emissions. If it can be produced and transported ...

DNV GL has released a position paper on the future alternative fuel mix for global shipping. While LNG is expected to be an early success, the picture becomes more diversified with time, as more than 20 per cent of shipping could adopt hybrid propulsion solutions, featuring batteries or other energy storage technologies. The main drivers for the use of alternative fuels are the desire to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the need to meet upcoming air pollution requirements. “The global merchant fleet currently consumes around 330 million tonnes of fuel annually, 80-85 per cent of which is residual fuel with high sulphur content,” says Christos Chryssakis, senior researcher DNV GL and position paper project manager. “Shipping must change, and we must contribute technical measures, operational measures and alternative fuels to meet the environmental challenges we are tackling.” Electrification Technology to Come Over the next four decades, it is likely that the energy mix will be characterised by a high degree of diversification, says Chryssakis. "LNG has the potential to become the fuel of choice for all shipping segments provided the infrastructure is in place, while liquid biofuels could gradually also replace oil-based fuels." Electricity from the grid is most likely ...