- SHI received approvals in principle (AiP) by Lloyd’s Register (LR), for VLCC designs with a storage tank capacity of 6,000 m3 LNG fuel.
- LR presented HHI with approval in principle (AiP) for a VLCC ‘eco-tanker’ design, that uses a combination of VOC mixed with LNG as fuel and Norsepower’s rotor sail solution for wind-assisted propulsion.
- Gagarin Prospect operated by Sovcomflot won the Next Generation Ship Award 2019.
Oslo witnessed 3 major celebrations at Nor-Shipping 2019 this week, related to LNG-fuelled marine transportation, reports NGV Global News.
Trio celebrations
Amidst these festivities, two of the world’s leading large ship builders, SHI and HHI, have been presented with approvals in principle (AiP) for VLCC designs in separate ceremonies by Lloyd’s Register (LR).
Gagarin Prospect, an LNG-fuelled Aframax crude oil tanker owned and operated by Sovcomflot (SCF Group), won the Next Generation Ship Award 2019.
SHI receives AiP from LR for LNG-fuelled VLCC
Lloyd’s Register (LR) has presented Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) with approval in principle (AiP) for an LNG-fuelled Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC).
This carrier is equipped with a fuel storage tank with a capacity of 6,000 m3 LNG fuel, a two-stroke dual-fuel diesel engine and an LNG fuel supply system.
This AiP came out in collaboration between the joint development project and SHI named VLCC2020.
Potential fuel saver
The technical feasibility of the LNG fuel supply system and energy saving technologies were assessed by LR, including SAVER Air, a SHI patented air lubrication system, and Norsepower’s rotor sail solution.
This happens to be an effective fuel-saving technology that offers potential fuel savings of 5-7%, depending on operating routes.
Viable design to combat air pollution
SHI’s LNG-fuelled VLCC design is estimated to reduce approximately 25% and 99% of carbon and sulphur oxides emission respectively, compared to conventional VLCC design.
Mr JT Jung, SHI CTO, said, “this is a significant milestone and it demonstrates the commitment of the company to help battle the air pollution through a technically and commercially viable design”.
HHI receives AiP from LR for VLCC ‘eco-tanker’
LR has presented HHI (Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd) with approval in principle (AiP) for a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) ‘eco-tanker’ design.
This carrier is capable of using a combination of volatile organic compounds (VOC) mixed with LNG as fuel and Norsepower’s rotor sail solution for wind-assisted propulsion. HHI, LR and Norsepower came together to form a joint development project (JDP) for this development.
VOC recovery system for reduced emissions
HHI developed the VOC recovery system and will allow the VLCC to use fuel produced from naturally-occurring vapor from the cargo tank during operation.
The AiP has been verified for interface and control logic stability with other systems, resulting in reduced emissions and stably improved efficiency.
Fuel savings upto 5-7%
The impact of the installation of Norsepower’s rotor sail solution, such as structural reinforcement and visibility calculation, was reviewed using computational-fluid dynamics (CFD) during the JDP.
It was confirmed that it has the potential of providing 5-7% fuel savings, dependent on operating routes.
HAZOP
LR facilitated a high-level hazard and operability (HAZOP) workshop for the LNG fuel supply system and associated technology in accordance with LR’s ShipRight Procedure for Risk-Based Designs.
The concept design has been examined in conjunction with the result of the HAZOP.
Challenges of GreenHouse emissions
Combination of VOC recovery and LNG in a dual-fuel system with the addition of rotor sails will help in the reduction of emissions, which is stated by the AiP.
This will aid the shipping industry to tackle the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050.
Smart and clean ships are under development which are technically reliable and commercially feasible, says Hong-Ryeul Ryu, Vice President in the Initial design office of HHI.
He also added that they are striving to design advanced ships that will benefit ship owners and lead eco-friendly shipping.
Lesser fuel consumption and reduced carbon emissions
Jukka Kuuskoski, CSO of Norsepower commented that larger number of VLCCs will be in demand with support from leading organisations. This would put the global maritime industry in the modern era of auxiliary wind propulsion, while supporting shipping’s transition to decarbonisation and achieving greater ship fuel efficiencies.
Wind driven propulsion is also underway in supporting the shipping industry to reduce its fuel consumption and meet impending carbon reduction targets.
Gagarin Prospect
Gagarin Prospect is an LNG-fuelled Aframax crude oil tanker owned and operated by Sovcomflot (SCF Group). They bagged the Next Generation Ship Award 2019, which was announced at Nor-Shipping 2019 Official Opening Ceremony held in Oslo on 3 June 2019.
The award recognizes Gagarin Prospect as the most promising design for ships that will be at sea in the coming decade.
‘Green Funnel’ initiative
Gagarin Prospect is the lead ship in the ‘Green Funnel’ series of 114,000-dwt Aframax crude oil tankers, using LNG as a primary fuel. The changeover to a cleaner-burning fuel results in reduced vessel emissions, which is particularly important for ships in high-traffic areas such as the Baltic and North Seas where Sovcomflot’s ‘Green Funnel’ vessels primarily operate.
President & CEO of Sovcomflot Sergey Frank, who received the award from Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry Torbjørn Røe Isaksen in the presence of His Majesty King Harald V of Norway, said: “We are grateful to Nor-Shipping for this recognition of our ‘Green Funnel’ initiative. Today, the shipping industry steadily transforms itself to become increasingly more sustainable, and we are proud that Sovcomflot is amongst those who lead this process. The switch to using LNG as a fuel could significantly contribute to reducing anthropogenic impact on the environment. We firmly believe that adopting LNG as a primary fuel for large-capacity tankers is the right move.”
He added that the ‘Green Funnel’ initiative has been a work of several years in close collaboration with Shell, Hyundai Heavy Industries, and DNV GL. He also thanked the partners for realising this initiative and making these tankers a reality.
At present, Sovcomflot has six such ‘Green Funnel’ Aframax tankers in operation and a further five LNG-fuelled tankers under construction, comprising two similar Aframax tankers and three 51,000-dwt MR product carriers.
Did you subscribe to our daily newsletter?
It’s Free! Click here to Subscribe!
Source: NGVGlobal
