Industry leaders offer ‘LNG solution’

Siemens Drilling and Dresser-Rand Marine, and Lloyd’s Register (LR) have announced that they are planning to make LNG widely available to those ship owners seeking to use natural gas as a propulsion fuel as well as meeting tough sulfur and nitrogen oxide emission-reduction requirements.

By providing an end-to-end solution the cooperation aims to remove obstacles that can hold back wide-spread adoption of natural gas as the marine fuel of choice.

According to Lloyd’s Register, there are approximately 40-50 LNG-fuelled vessels globally, but an increase is expected. Much of this proposed growth is driven by increased emissions regulations, including stringent EPA compliance requirements for marine customers operating across the North American Emissions Control Area.

David Grucza, Siemens Drilling and Marine, explained: “In putting together this team of leaders in the marine and LNG space, our integrated solution, encompassing the entire supply chain of LNG including gas-fuelled marine propulsion systems, will remove the chicken-and-egg hurdle from the LNG-equation. This is a disruptive concept for the maritime industry, and the technology exists for immediate adoption. This joint solution is not limited geographically, and we stand ready to support the marine industry globally, although our initial focus is on deploying US shale gas.”

The initial solution that will be available to the North American inland and coastal waterways community will be comprised of the following elements designed and engineered by leading naval engineering firms Waller Marine Inc. (WMI) and The Shearer Group Inc. (TSGI), respectively, and will be constructed by Conrad Industries shipyard in Texas:

• Land-based and/or floating, LNGo™-liquefaction barge.
• LNG bunkering barge (C-Type tanks with up to 2500 m³ capacity).
• 4200 or higher horsepower river Pushboat.

“Together, the team brings a holistic answer to the LNG marine fuel question of what comes first – the bunkering station or the engine? The innovative solution to this industry hurdle includes the entire supply chain from liquefaction, LNG bunkering and design, all while meeting EPA and USCG compliance and providing smart, sustainable, lower greenhouse gas alternative fuels to operators,” added David Waller, President, Waller Marine Inc.

“Lloyd’s Register is well placed to support a new fleet of gas-fuelled ships – and help them to operate safely and efficiently. Our expertise and leadership in gas technology and operations – from gas carriers to LNG bunkering and gas as a marine fuel – helps lead to the best decisions based on the best, independent, technical insight,” said Mark Darley, Americas Regional Marine Manager and President of Lloyd’s Register North America (LRNA).

Edited from press release by Angharad Lock

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/liquid-natural-gas/04122015/industry-leaders-offer-complete-lng-solution-1726/