LNG

European classification society DNV has classed two LNG-powered bulk carriers owned by Maran Dry Management (MDM), the dry bulk shipping arm of Greece’s Angelicoussis Group, and has seen both vessels through to successful bunkering operations.

DNV said the Greek company took delivery of the two Newcastlemax bulk carriers from Shanghai Waigaoqiao Ship Building Co. in China.

The “Ubuntu Unity” was delivered on February 28 and the “Ubuntu Community” on April 18.

“The 190,000-deadweight ton vessels, registered with the Greek flag, are the first dual-fuelled bulk carriers in the Greek market and will sail using LNG,” said the Norway-based class society.

DNV has been at the forefront of the growing LNG fuel market in classing vessels and assisting developers.

“The two Newcastlemax LNG-powered vessels are 299.80 metres long, 47.5 metres wide and 24.70 metres deep, with a design draft of 18.25 metres and a design draft speed of 14 knots,” said DNV.

LNG tanks

They can use both LNG and conventional fuel and are equipped with two Type-C LNG fuel tanks.

DNV explained that the capacity of the LNG tanks means that the vessels could operate for 20,000 nautical miles powered by gas, allowing the vessels to complete two round-trip routes from China to Australia or one round-trip route from China to Brazil.

Both vessels were described by DNV as having a combination of “very advantageous” dual-fuel and hull optimizations and high energy efficiency.

“We are very pleased to have been involved with the charterer, owner, yard and designers from the outset of this project,” said Morten Løvstad, Vice President and Global Business Director for Bulk Carriers at DNV Maritime.

“These highly efficient and innovative vessels, with dual-fuel engines, and an optimized hull design, show MDM’s commitment to meeting environmental regulations not just today but over the long term,” Morten Løvstad.

Designs

Captain Babis Kouvakas, Managing Director that MDM as part of the Angelicoussis Group was committed to embracing sustainability initiatives to optimize its fleet’s environmental performance.

“We are delighted to have collaborated with DNV and SWS on the design and development of these modern and environmentally friendly ships. Both vessels incorporate the latest technology, aiming to reduce carbon emissions,” Kouvakas added.

Ioannis Chiotopoulos, Senior Vice President and Regional Manager for South East Europe, the Middle East and Africa at DNV Maritime, said the two vessels marked the high level of cooperation between the Angelicoussis Group and DNV.

“These new vessels clearly show the Group`s commitment to driving sustainability in the bulk segment, and are great examples of how the maritime community is taking up the challenge of reducing our environmental footprint through innovation,” Chiotopoulos explained.

“We thank MDM for their trust and welcome ‘Ubuntu Unity’ and ‘Ubuntu Community’ to DNV class. May they enjoy smooth sailing for many years to come,” Chiotopoulos added.

Both Ubuntu vessels are on charter to global mining company Anglo American.

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.

Peninsula Petroleum, a leading marine fuels company, teamed up with Petronas Marine of Malaysia to complete its first LNG bunker supply to H-Line Shipping of South Korea in Malaysian waters.

BHP, the Anglo-Australian global commodities company, has awarded the world’s first LNG-fuelled bulk carrier tender to a Singapore-based shipping line with the aim of reducing greenhouse-gas emissions by more than 30 percent per voyage while delivering iron ore from Western Australia to China.

Anglo-Australian global commodities and energy company BHP with long-standing stakes in Western Australian LNG, natural gas and mining and with LNG-powered shipping plans said it planned to hire 1,500 additional people to support its workforce operating across Australia.