ABS approval for Conrad, TSGI LNG towboat

Conrad Shipyard and The Shearer Group (TSGI) have received an Approval in Principal (AIP) from ABS, for the design of a 4200 hp LNG-powered towboat.

The towboat is based on TSGI’s proven azimuth drive (z-drive) towboat design. To date, eight of these towboats have been built for Southern Towing Company. The original Southern Towing boats helped pioneer the use of z-drives for brown water operations and have shown significant fuel savings relative to conventional towboats.

The new LNG powered towboat design capitalises on Wärtsilä’s dual-fuel technology. While Wärtsilä’s existing dual-fuel engines are medium speed diesels, it is anticipated that future engine developments will result in lighter and smaller high-speed units. The design is flexible to allow for the use of either engine option as determined by the operator.

Greg Beers, TSGI President, commented: “By combining two widely accepted technologies, z-drives and Wärtsilä’s dual-fuel engines and fuel system, we have mitigated most of the risks associated with being an early adopter of this novel technology. By incorporating proven technologies, we have minimised the risks that first movers will be taking with the switch to utilising LNG as a fuel.”

Adapted from press release by Katie Woodward

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/small-scale-lng/03122014/conrad-and-tsgi-lng-towboat-gets-abs-approval-1903/