LNG fuel tank for shipping company

Japan Marine United Corporation (JMU) and IHI Corporation (IHI) have agreed on the joint development of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel tank and supply system for LNG fuelled container vessels for United Arab Shipping Company (UASC).

These ships are the UASC’s current newbuilding order of five 14 000 TEU vessels and five 18 000 TEU vessels, manufactured by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI).

UASC has selected the self-supporting prismatic-shape IMO type-B LNG tank system as the LNG fuel tank. JMU will perform engineering for the tank, while IHI will study the constructability of the tank.

World first

The retrofit of the tank, together with the Fuel Gas Supply System (FGSS), will be performed once the infrastructure is in place to enable LNG supplies in major ports. However, the vessels will be constructed in such a way that the tank and FGSS can be installed with minimum work volume and period. These will be the first large Asia-Europe trade container vessels in the world to use LNG fuel.

The IHI designed tank was originally developed as the cargo containment system for large-scale carriers and floating LNG platforms. The tank can be designed in any shape and capacity to fit the hull form and hold space as required. This means that the number of fuel tanks and the amount of related equipment can be minimised, contributing to reduced cargo loss, capital investment and operational cost.

Cost efficiency and environmental requirements will be met by increasing the number of LNG fuelled vessels.

Adapted from press release by Katie Woodward

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/lng-shipping/13122013/lng_tank_for_shipping_vessels_570/