LNG

Japan’s Mitsui OSK Lines and group company Ferry Sunflower Limited said that the “Sunflower Kurenai” received its first LNG fuel supply at the Port of Beppu in Oita Prefecture.

Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK), the Japanese shipping line is teaming up with two Finnish entities, to complete concept design of an LNG-powered Capesize bulk carrier and a very large crude oil tanker in a project also aimed at easy conversion for other future fuels such ammonia.

The partners from Finland are the Monohakobi Technology Institute (MTI) and a company called Finnish Elomatic Oy.

A concept design of an ammonia fuel-ready LNG-fuelled vessel (ARLFV) includes ship specifications such as overall length and width, load capacity, voyage distance and ship speed.

The joint project participants listed the main challenges in designing and developing the ARLFVs .

Firstly, because of the lower energy density of ammonia compared with LNG, a larger fuel tank capacity is needed to maintain the same level of endurance.

Secondly, the space for cargo loading, as well as the loadable cargo weight, is reduced.

Thirdly, a bigger fuel tank and additional fuel tanks affect a ship’s stability and hull strength.

Fourthly, due to the extreme toxicity of ammonia, ventilation for the ammonia tanks must be designed according to international conventions and domestic laws.

More costs

Furthermore, it was noted that conversion from an LNG-powered vessel to an ammonia-fuelled ship requires additional work periods and costs.

The three - NYK, MTI, and Elomatic - said they had sought solutions to the challenges by research and study of the fuel-tank layout and other specifications of the ship.

“The three companies then completed a concept design that has viable, functional, and safe features,” they added.

“Compared to a conventional LNG-fuelled vessel, the ARLFV in this concept design is expected to feature a conversion-cost reduction of 12 percent for a capsize bulk carrier and 25 percent for a VLCC,” they said.

The next step in the process is for the three to work with shipyards and marine equipment manufacturers on the actual design of the ARLFV based on the concept design.

March 28 (LNGJ) - Nippon Yūsen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK), the Japanese shipping line, said it had taken delivery of the LNG-powered pure car and truck carrier (PCTC), the “Plumeria Leader”. The vessel was built at the Shin Kurushima Dockyard in Hiroshima.

   “This is NYK's second LNG-fuelled car carrier following the ‘Sakura Leader’ being delivered,” said NYK. “This ship will be one of the world’s largest PCTCs, capable of transporting approximately 7,000 units (standard vehicle equivalent) per voyage, beginning with vehicles produced by the Toyota Motor Corp.,” added NYK.

Nippon Kaiji Kyokai, the Japanese maritime classification society, has issued its latest survey guidelines for facilities and equipment on liquefied natural gas bunkering vessels supplying fuel to LNG-powered ships at sea.

Japanese companies Mitsubishi Corp. and Air Water Inc. said they had jointly developed a compact LNG fuel filling station facility aimed at the growing global market for LNG-powered trucks.

JERA Co. Inc., the largest Japanese LNG buyer, said it formally started its LNG bunkering business in the Chubu region of Japan through the nation’s first ship-to-ship fuel operation by the Central LNG joint venture.

Kawasaki Heavy Industries has held a naming ceremony at the Sakaide shipyard for Japan’s first liquefied natural gas bunkering vessel, the “Kaguya”, as Japanese companies respond to the International Maritime Organization’s campaign for cleaner fuel in the shipping industry.

The latest Japanese ferry newbuilds on order with shipyards in Japan have opted not to have liquefied natural gas as part of the propulsion systems and will instead use exhaust-cleaners known as scrubbers to meet the sulfur cap on emissions from 2020 backed by the International Maritime Organization.

Nippon Kaiji Kyokai, the Japanese maritime classification society known as ClassNK, has approved the concept and design of an LNG-powered large Capesize bulk carrier put forward by Japanese shipping companies NYK Line and Japan Marine United.