LNG fuel gas trials at Zeebrugge

The ethylene carrier Coral Star, owned by Anthony Veder, has called in for LNG fuel gas trials at Euroservices Terminal at the Port of Zeebrugge.

The vessel was delivered by Avic-Dingheng Shipbuilding yard in Jiangsu province, China, and is Anthony Veder Group’s first ship with LNG tanks for cargo-independent dual fuel operation. The vessel will transport ethylene from a Sabic cracker at Teeside in the UK to destinations in Northern Europe.

LNG commissioning process

The final commissioning was carried out in two steps. The first step was to condition and load the bunker tanks with LNG, while the second was to send gas to the engines for testing. Liquefied nitrogen, delivered by Air Liquide, was used to purge the bunker tanks (reduce oxygen content) and to cool down.

After cooling down to -160°C, the system was filled with LNG via two trucks delivered by Gasnor in order to start up the fuel gas system and send gas towards the engines. The generated power was sent in a first step to a load bank ashore for testing and controlling. After testing all three engines, the vessel set sail for sea to start its regular trade.

Comments

Stefaan Hoppe, General Manager Hoppe Maritime Group

“Anthony Veder’s choice to call our terminal in Zeebrugge confirms our position in the maritime gas industry and demonstrates we can offer our clients a full range of services in small scale LNG and/or LNG bunkering such as purging, conditioning, cooling down and delivery of LNG.

“It is pleasant to see that our activities that we have been performing for more than 40 years are extremely present-day. Furthermore our in-house agency department took care of all port related matters and is liaising all activities. All these services under one roof is an added value for our customers.”

Ferdinand Dekker, Manager Operations Anthony Veder

“With projects like the LNG-commissioning of the Coral Star we are glad to work with experienced partners like Hoppe Maritime Group. With their expertise and hands-on mentality they were able to contribute to a successful project in Zeebrugge. In the meantime we are looking forward to see her sister vessel Coral Sticho soon in Zeebrugge for the LNG-commissioning.”

Stein Vlassenbroeck, Account Manager Air Liquide

“As a partner for many years, Air Liquide was very excited and proud to assist Euroservices in these LNG trials. Euroservices contacted us in the beginning of September to provide the necessary equipment and liquid nitrogen.

“With our special projects equipment, our bulk logistics and our dedicated teams we are able to respond in a swift and safe way to these kind of requests. Helping to preserve our environment lays in the core values of Air Liquide and therefore we are connected to this business. Indeed, we are already looking forward to the next LNG project.”

Adapted from press release by Katie Woodward

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/lng-shipping/01102014/lng-fuel-gas-trials-for-ethylene-carrier-1513/