Nippon Kaiji Kyokai, the Japanese maritime classification society, has approved a project run by Tsuneishi Shipbuilding for their concept design of an LNG-powered bulk carrier.
Nippon Kaiji Kyokai, known as ClassNK, granted an Approval in Principle based on its Rule Part GF regulation for ships using low-flashpoint fuels and incorporating the international code for the “Kamsarmax GF” series of vessels.
The GF in “Kamsarmax GF” stands for Gas Fuel and the vessel has an installed dual-fuel engine using LNG as the main fuel and an IMO Type C Fuel tank.
The main features of the system being incorporated by the Tsuneishi shipyard into the Kamsarmax is aimed at having a high environmental performance.
Designed to use LNG as its primary fuel, it has achieved a reduction of carbon-dioxide emissions by 40 percent or more compared with traditional fuels.
In addition, the emissions of sulfur oxides (SOx) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) have also been greatly reduced.
“As more environmental technologies have been developed to realize a low-carbon and decarbonized society in the maritime industry, developments of LNG-fueled ships are progressed in a variety of ship types and sizes,” explained ClassNK.
The class society earlier in 2021 issued its latest survey guidelines for facilities and equipment on LNG bunkering vessels supplying fuel to LNG-powered ships at sea.
ClassNK noted that there were no established international conventions for the facilities or equipment of ships that transfer LNG to other ships at sea, and additional safety equipment has been considered individually
Based on the examinations conducted so far, ClassNK has developed guidelines complying with the requirements for additional equipment for the safe transfer of LNG.
The guidelines stipulate the layout and system design of LNG bunkering ships, fuel transfer systems, and operation, as well as class notations according to the equipment to be installed.
