Babcock celebrates completion of LNG bunker supply vessel

Kairos is the first of its kind, and is the world’s largest LNG bunker supply vessel. It has now been successfully delivered to Babcock Schulte Energy (BSE) – a 50:50 joint venture between Babcock and Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM).

The first steel cutting was completed in November last year at the Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in South Korea. This was completed on schedule and involved a number teams working to exacting plans and specifications. The keel was then laid in early 2018.

The vessel will be deployed to the Baltic region servicing a number of clients, including the Linde/AGA terminal in Nynäshamn and the Klaipeda LNG fuelling station in Lithuania. It is capable of performing both ship-to-ship (STS) bunkering and transhipment operations, and will be used for the LNG fuelling of ships including ferries, containers, cruise vessels and other shore-based gas consumers.

Kairos is equipped with Babcock’s Fuel Gas Supply Vessel Zero (FGSV0^TM) technology. This is a scalable cargo handling and fuelling station complete with CNG storage and utilisation capabilities. It will enable the vessel to eliminate the release of boil-off and flash gas to the atmosphere during normal operations providing an environmentally responsible shipping alternative. The FGSV0 enables significant reductions in emissions and offers beneficial environmental footprint savings.

Neale Campbell, Babcock LGE Managing Director, said: “Babcock thrives in complex environments which require specialist engineering expertise. Our commitment to the Babcock Page 2 of 2 Schulte Energy joint venture draws upon Babcock’s significant gas systems expertise. Leveraging this to meet our customer’s specific requirements, the collaboration, teamwork and overall performance of our teams has been exceptional and critical to the success of this programme.”

Angus Campbell, Director of Energy Projects – Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, added: “As Kairos enters service Babcock Schulte Energy is proud to be contributing towards a cleaner energy future for shipping. Our industry is evaluating ways to meet new emission regulations and reduce its carbon footprint. The use of natural gas is emerging as the most sustainable solution for powering global maritime transportation into the future. We believe that this will offer significant opportunities for the joint venture.”

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/liquid-natural-gas/31102018/babcock-celebrates-completion-of-lng-bunker-supply-vessel/