LNG

The American Bureau of Shipping, the US classification society, said the first liquefied natural gas-powered Newcastlemax bulk carrier in an order of 13 ABS-classed vessels for Eastern Pacific Shipping has been fuelled with LNG in a bunkering operation at Singapore, and was now heading for Australia to load iron ore for Asia.

Dec 9 (LNGJ) - The American Bureau of Shipping has granted approval in principle to Finnish company Deltamarin and French LNG storage tank firm GTT for a dual-fuel Newcastlemax bulk carrier design with LNG capability. Deltamarin, GTT and ABS have been cooperating on the development of this LNG-fueled bulk carrier. It is intended to meet current and future environmental targets by introducing GTT membrane-type LNG tanks with LNG fuel stored at atmospheric pressure and designed to ABS Class.

   ABS said that the approval addressed the design’s introduction of a membrane fuel tank sited in the aft of the vessel. The tank design is intended to maximize cargo capacity, with the additional tank having zero impact on available cargo space or the vessel’s hull dimensions. “A design such as this would allow owners and operators to capitalize on the potential of LNG as marine fuel to help meet emissions reduction objectives without having to compromise on cargo load,” said Patrick Janssens, ABS Vice President for Global Gas Solutions.

Lloyd’s Register, the UK maritime classification society, has given more details of its joint development of a dual-fuel bulk carrier, including liquefied natural gas-powered capability, with Jiangnan Shipyard Group of China.