The World LPG Association (WLPGA) issued a Guide for LPG Marine Fuel Supply, which is dedicated to the use of LPG in the marine sector and its benefits. The report, presents an overview of key LPG bunkering developments and how this potential infrastructure relates to major global shipping routes.
Jon Anders Ryste, Senior Consultant, Environment Advisory, DNV GL presents a recent study, whose ambition is to assess the commercial and operational viability of alternative marine fuels. The study analyzed six fuels, having LNG as its base for comparison.
Japanese firms Osaka Gas and Daihatsu Diesel received an Approval in Principle from ClassNK for their joint project on an LPG Reformer for marine engines. This was the first AIP granted in Japan for such equipment. The LPG Reformer is designed to convert LPG into synthetic methane gas equivalent to the kind found in LNG.
PNX Petroleum Singapore Pte. Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Davao-based oil company Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, recently signed a partnership with Singapore-based Hengyi Industries International for an LPG offtake venture in Brunei.
The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has signed a partnership framework agreement and a JV agreement worth up to $12 billion with China’s Wanhua Chemical Group. The deal foresees collaboration in the downstream sector, according to ADNOC.
The establishment of air emissions regulations in the form of Emission Control Areas (ECA) and the upcoming IMO 2020 sulphur cap are leading the search for economically, commercially, and environmentally acceptable marine fuels. US Coast Guard examiners are seeing a new trend on ships carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and ethane. Namely, these vessels are using their cargoes as fuel during ocean transits.
Enterprise Products Partners announced three additional expansion projects, aiming to increase the partnership’s capacity to load LPG, polymer grade propylene and crude oil from its Enterprise Hydrocarbon Terminal on the Houston Ship Channel. Today, Enterprise’s LPG loading capacity is around 660,000 barrels per day.
Canadian energy infrastructure company AltaGas announced the opening of its Ridley Island Propane Export Terminal (RIPET), located in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, the first marine export facility for propane in Canada. The facility began introducing propane feedstock in mid-April.
Babcock’s LGE business has been awarded a contract for the LPG cargo handling and Fuel Gas Supply System for the world’s first newbuilding vessel to use LPG as a primary fuel source. The 86,000cbm carrier is being built in China and will be delivered in January 2021. Babcock’s FGSS integrates with the cargo handling system for transfer between the two systems during voyages.
Alfa Laval announced that, in partnership with MAN Energy Solutions, the Alfa Laval Fuel Conditioning Module (FCM) LPG has undergone successful tests with the first two-stroke, high-pressure marine engine to use LPG as fuel – and has been evaluated for use with ammonia.
