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10
January 2020
LNG
NEWS
USA
World’s first LNG-powered
shallow-water push boat
approved
R
obert Allan Ltd and Rolls-Royce have developed what is
believed to be the world’s first shallow-water push boat
powered by LNG-fuelled engines.
At the International Workboat Show in New Orleans, US,
classification society DNV GL gave its ‘approval in principle’
(AiP) to the new design. Powered by two MTU 8V 4000 M55RN
natural gas engines from Rolls-Royce and designed for use
on inland waterways, the push boat is more cost-effective to
operate, and produces less pollutants and climate-unfriendly
exhaust gases than vessels with conventional propulsion
systems.
Robert Allan Ltd and Rolls-Royce collaborated to design
the gas-powered shallow-water push boat based on the
proven Robert Allan Ltd RApide 2800-Z2 design, which is
already used on some diesel-powered vessels on the Amazon
river. The vessel design was specially modified for LNG
to accommodate the two 746 kW engines (complete with
IMO Tier III emission control systems) and the entire LNG
supply system – also provided by Rolls-Royce – as well as the
gas control and safety systems and the overall vessel control
system.
The hull – externally unchanged from the RApide design –
was internally redesigned to accommodate the 70 m³ gas tank,
as well as the usual engine accoutrements, and to provide the
crew with a pleasant working environment.
The AiP from DNV GL certifies that the design complies in
principle with the classification society’s rules for classification
of maritime vessels, and the international safety regulations
for vessels using gas or other low-flashpoint fuels. It is an
independent evaluation of the design concept within a given
framework and states that the design is fundamentally feasible
and there are no fundamental implementation concerns.
China
Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding orders GTT tank on behalf
of Mitsui
G
TT has received an order from the Chinese shipyard
Hudong-Zhonghua for the tank design of an LNG
bunker vessel on behalf of the Japanese ship owner
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd (MOL).
GTT will design the tanks of the vessel, which will be
fitted with the Mark III membrane containment system, a
technology developed by GTT. The vessel will offer a total
cargo tank capacity of 18 600 m³. The unit will be operated
by the shipowner MOL and chartered by Total. Its delivery is
planned during 4Q21.
Sweden
Gasum opens eighth gas
filling station in Sweden
G
asum has announced that it has opened its first gas
filling station in Skåne, Kristianstad, Sweden.
The station serves heavy-duty vehicles, offering both LBG
and LNG as low-emission fuels. It is the company’s eighth
station in Sweden. In addition to expanding the gas filling
station network, Gasum claims that it is also focusing on
biogas capacity increase. The company is building a biogas
plant at Stora Enso’s Nymölla pulp and paper mill.
Mikael Antonsson, Director, Traffic, Gasum Sweden, said:
“With the opening of Kristianstad’s gas filling station, we
are strengthening the gas filling station infrastructure in
southern Sweden. Expanding the gas filling station network
along the main highways in Sweden enables more Swedish
logistics companies to lower emissions and switch to LNG
and LBG.
“It’s also great to see that awareness of low-emission
fuel alternatives are increasing, thus becoming more popular
among logistics companies.”
According to the statement, the opening of this latest gas
filling station has increased the interest in gas in the Skåne
region. For example, Åhus-based Green L Equipment AB is
aiming to introduce its first gas truck as soon as possible.
Mårten Andersson, Managing Director of
Green L Equipment AB, said: “I have been following the
development of gas trucks for about a year now. When
I heard the news about a new biogas plant and a filling
station in the area, I knew I wanted to add a gas truck in
my fleet. I have sent an application to Klimatklivet and now
I’m waiting to see how much they will support our gas truck
investment. The fact that gas as fuel is environmentally
friendly is important to Green L Equipment, as we aim to be
carbon neutral in the future.”