ABS releases LNG Fuel Ready Vessels guide

ABS has published its ‘Guide for LNG Fuel Ready Vessels’. The guide aims to support members and clients in the preparation of newbuildings for future conversion to gas propulsion. It provides a detailed review and approval and an associated class notation for clients who wish to plan for conversion to LNG fuel at a future date.

The ‘Guide for LNG Fuel Ready Vessels’ includes a basic level of Concept Design Approval, with a design review for approval in principle (AIP). It also covers two optional levels for general design approval and installed equipment: a General Design Review and a Detail Design Approval and Installation. The first optional level allows an owner to approach a shipyard with a reviewed design package for the gas-fuelled system at the time of conversion. The latter optional level constitutes a complete design review and survey of a system that will be installed on the LNG ready ship in accordance with the ABS ‘Guide for Propulsion and Auxiliary Systems for Gas Fueled Ships’.

The first level provides an AIP and a descriptive note in the ABS Record, the second level a Statement of Compliance with a descriptive note listing the parts of the system that have been reviewed. The third level results in an LNG Fuel Ready class notation for the parts of the system that have been installed, confirming that the fuel system is in full compliance with the ABS Guide to Gas Fueled Ships at the time of the newbuilding contract.

ABS Chairman and CEO. Christopher J. Wiernicki, said: "ABS is a leader in LNG as fuel, with a number of newbuilding and conversion projects in progress, and there is strong interest in preparing for a future in which LNG takes a bigger role […] The ‘Guide for LNG Fuel Ready Vessels’ draws on our practical experience by providing a detailed approval process and a notation that clarifies the extent to which a vessel is LNG Fuel Ready."

ABS Vice President of Global Gas Solutions, Patrick Janssens, added: "The projects ABS has already worked on demonstrate the variability from the designer's and owner's perspective of the requirements associated with the term LNG Ready […] Rather than rely solely on current notations and descriptive notes to express to what extent a ship is LNG ready, the ABS Guide and notation are powerful tools that go beyond the basics to help clients specify work to be done in the construction phase and when they are ready to convert."

Adapted from press release by Callum O'Reilly

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/lng-shipping/08122014/abs-releases-lng-fuel-ready-vessels-guide-1920/