LNG - Equipment

One of The Utkilen fleet

Høglund wins Utkilen contract

Norway’s Høglund has been assigned to design, supply and deliver a Fuel Gas Supply System (FGSS) solution for Norwegian tanker owner and operator Utkilen. The project, a fully Norwegian collaboration between the owner, Høglund and fellow Norway-based design, piping and welding company Skarweld AS, will see the design and installation of FGSS on four Utkilen LNG-ready ships - Mostraum, Vikstraum, Saltstraum and Sydstraum.

Høglund has been commissioned to supply and deliver a control system and a monitoring system as part of an overall energy turnkey solution. Apart from the tank installation, which will be carried out whilst the vessels at a yard, the retrofit itself will, for the main part, be delivered whilst the ships are in service in order to reduce downtime. By installing new highquality gas systems without interrupting operations, Høglund is pioneering a new way to complete installations that will have significant benefits for the industry. This type of installation makes future-proofing shipping assets compatible with the on-going activity of the vessels, overcoming potential commercial barriers to retrofits. Skarweld AS will contribute to the project by designing and implementing the piping system for the vessels. The four vessels, the most modern within Utkilen’s fleet, will boast shore power capability as well as shoreside monitoring capacity through Høglund’s systems.

These retrofits complement Utkilen’s sustainability commitment to reduce its impact on the environment and invest in a greener future for its fleet. The new FGSS on-board will enhance the four sisterships’ energy rating and help future-proof them in advance of upcoming regulations on carbon emissions, and to adhere to the ISO 14001 standard.

This project further exemplifies shipowners’ and operators’ increasing recognition of systems integration as a key element to improve the environmental performance of individual vessels and wider fleets.

Commenting on the contract, David Gunaseelan, VP Sales & Marketing at Høglund Marine Solutions, said, “We are very much looking forward to this all-Norwegian project that will allow us to join forces with our local partners at Skarweld and work collaboratively for our longstanding customer Utkilen.

“This project will be particularly interesting due to the fact that, despite being LNG-ready, the four vessels lack gas energy systems, which is something that we are increasingly noticing in the industry. With this in mind, we are looking forward to using our engineering expertise to change this and make the systems on-board the vessels work to maximise their sustainability credentials.”

Leif Larsen, Director of Newbuilding and Projects at Utkilen, added, “Having worked with Høglund back in 2017, we are happy to announce that we have commissioned them again to further improve the environmental performance of four of our chemical tankers.

“Høglund’s invaluable expertise and knowledge presents the latest technological innovation and engineering excellence to provide our fleet with a competitive edge, especially when it comes to optimising our systems’ efficiency and environmental performance.”

Maran Gas and NLNG contracts for Kongsberg

Norway’s Kongsberg Maritime (KM) has announced that Maran Gas Maritime has signed a contract to roll out KM’s K-IMS Information Management System across its entire fleet. Already a long-term customer of KM, with this move Maran Gas are taking the relationship to a new level by integrating KM into its digitalisation strategy and cyber security.

“We feel very confident with the decision to implement the K-IMS project with KM for the entire fleet,” says Andreas Spertos, EVP, Technical Director, Maran Gas Maritime. “By the end of 2021, K-IMS will be rolled-out to more than 20 LNG tankers of various propulsion types.

“Implementation of K-IMS will continue for existing and newbuild vessels until the entire fleet of 40+ LNG tankers is upgraded. K-IMS will replace the existing limited capability data transfer system and will provide us with unlimited opportunities to develop and advance further our in-house fleet monitoring and analysis systems that support the safe, efficient and environmentally friendly operation of the fleet.”

Anders Sjuls Fjeld, Sales Director LNG, Global Sales & Marketing, KM, adds, “All of us at KM are committed to growing our working partnership with Maran Gas, after spending approximately 15 fruitful years as the systems provider for its fleet. By focusing on building strong customer relations and trust, and following an open, dialogue-driven partnership with Maran Gas, we have created a great foundation for rolling out K-IMS.”

Most ships in the Maran Gas fleet already have K-IMS-ready hardware in place - any outstanding vessels have been taken into consideration in

One of the Maran Gas fleet

Kongsberg Maritime is to deliver Shell’s JAWS software to the entire NSML LNG tanker fleet via the K-IMS platform

the overall rollout plan. “Data replication is then enabled via software applications on our K-IMS Onboard and K-IMS Onshore solutions,” Fjeld concludes.

KM currently has secured more than 300 K-IMS contracts, with over 100 K-IMS agreements signed in the first half of 2021 alone and more in the pipeline. “The majority of the LNG segment’s largest international ship owners and charterers are currently reaping the benefits of K-IMS, which is perhaps the most advanced, tailor-made vessel information management system in the world. It has already proved to be well suited to the LNG sector, and many more LNG shipowners are lining up to get involved,” comments Bård Bjørløw, EVP Global Sales & Marketing, Kongsberg Maritime.

Meanwhile, NLNG Ship Management Limited (NSML) has just signed a contract with KM to deliver Shell’s patented JAWS (Just Add Water System) draught and trim optimisation software across the entire NSML fleet of 11 LNG tankers. JAWS will be distributed using KM’s K-IMS digital solution – a portfolio of specialised applications to support complex operations – making K-IMS and JAWS a core element of NSML’s digitalisation and cyber security strategies.

The JAWS software uses historic, high-frequency vessel data to determine optimal operating conditions, as recorded from previous voyages. This enables the system to advise on how best to enhance a vessel’s draught and trim at any given speed as a means of reducing fuel consumption and lowering emissions. JAWS also monitor and reports live fuel and emissions savings back to managers, giving a real-time insight into the benefits of deploying this technology across a fleet.

By uniting all data-logging and communication channels into one secure system, the collaborative K-IMS solution presents a comprehensive information flow which provides a common, user-friendly solution for fleet owners, charterers and third parties alike. To date, close to 300 K-IMS contracts have been signed within the LNG sector. “K-IMS is also establishing an appreciable market footprint in the offshore segment,” says Vegar Løver, Sales Manager, LNG, Kongsberg Maritime.

“By working together with Shell on JAWS, we have added a new layer of trust and strengthened customer relations relating to KM’s regular product portfolio. Our K-IMS solution has created a great foundation for rolling out JAWS. We’re very pleased that the solution has provided the basis for NSML to move forward with both digitalisation and cyber security.”

Samho and HMD orders for Wärtsilä

Wärtsilä will supply three reliquefaction plants, the newly developed Compact Reliq, for three new LNG tankers building at South Korea’s Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries (HSHI) for Norway-based Knutsen OAS

One of the Knutsen OAS fleet

Shipping, and represent options taken following an earlier order for two such vessels. The orders for three more systems were booked in July and August 2021 and the deliveries will take place in the autumn of 2022.

The Compact Reliq was introduced to the market in 2020. It features a compact design for easy installation and maintenance on all sizes of carrier vessels, both large and small. Based on the well-proven reversed nitrogen Brayton cycle refrigeration technology, the solution reliquefies the boil-off gas (BOG) and keeps the cargo cool under all operating conditions. It allows a portion of the BOG to be used as fuel for the ship’s engines, with the excess able to be sold as part of the LNG cargo.

“We have had good experience with Wärtsilä’s reversed nitrogen Brayton cycle reliquefaction plants in the past, and the Compact Reliq is an exciting addition to their portfolio. It makes on-board reliquefaction viable for all sizes of carriers, and is clearly the right choice for our new ships,” said Jarle Østenstad Newbuilding Director, Knutsen OAS Shipping

“We received an order for two systems last year to be delivered to the HSHI yard for installation on Knutsen’s newbuild tankers. There was an option for additional vessels and this option has been taken up with contracts for three new Compact Reliq plants. These are important projects that further strengthen our relationship with both HSHI and Knutsen OAS,” said Pål Steinnes, Sales Manager, Wärtsilä Gas Solutions.

The Wärtsilä solution uses safe and easily obtainable commercial grade nitrogen. It is instrumented for remote monitoring and online operational support as part of Wärtsilä’s Operational Performance Improvement and Monitoring (OPERIM) programme.

ABB to deliver equipment to six new LNG tankers

ABB’s A200-L turbochargers will be used on MAN Energy Solutions’ 5G70ME-C10.5-GA engines destined for six 174,000 m3 LNG tankers ordered by four shipowners – Korea Line Corp, PAN Ocean, Knutsen OAS and JP Morgan – under a long-term charter agreement with Shell.

The ME-GA is MAN’s first low-pressure dual-fuel two-stroke engine. It sits alongside MAN’s well-established high-pressure ME-GI engines, offering LNG tankers and other vessels an alternative way to cut greenhouse gas emissions and minimise air pollution at lower capital cost. The LNG-fuelled engine can also operate on synthetic or biomassderived LNG as it becomes available, either for full use or as part of a fuel blend, further reducing climate impact.

Turbocharger performance is particularly important for dual-fuel engines. High turbocharging efficiency ensures that a high air-fuel ratio is maintained during high-load operations, reducing potential fast combustion, which can adversely affect operation and emissions. The A100/A200-L series is ABB’s most advanced single-stage turbocharger technology for two-stroke engines, using the latest thermodynamic and aerodynamic expertise to pack the highest pressure ratios and efficiency currently available into a compact unit. The small footprint also translates into a lower cost of ownership as spare parts are smaller and more economical and the turbocharger itself is easier to handle for servicing.

“When engine designers and OEMs want reliable high performance to support new engine technologies, they look to ABB turbochargers,” said Alexandros Karamitsos, Head of Global Sales Low-Speed Turbochargers, ABB. “I am confident that shipowners will increasingly value our combination of technology leadership and global service coverage as incoming emission regulations encourage them to explore new fuels and engine concepts. We are delighted to be involved in this ground-breaking project and grateful for MAN’s trust in our engineering expertise.”

ABB Turbocharging will also provide turbochargers for the auxiliary engines on each vessel.

The ABB A265-L turbocharger

MHI-MME delivers to FSRU

Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Marine Machinery & Equipment (MHIMME) has delivered a turbine for demonstration test of a cryogenic power generation system for a FSRU design named as ‘Cryo-Powered Regas system’ developed by Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) and confirmed its successful running at DSME’s Okpo shipyard.

The role of an FSRU is to regasify -160oC LNG through heat exchange. In the past, LNG’s cold energy had not been utilised in FSRUs and was released. By installing the CryoPowered Regas system, such cold energy will be transferred to another heating medium, and the generated steam

The MHI-MME Cryo-Powered Regas turbine

FSRU’s fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

A small-scale version of the Cryo-Powered Regas system was built in DSME’s R&D premises. The turbine generator used in this system was designed and constructed by MHI-MME specifically for the system. Through this test, MOL and DSME verified that the system could successfully generate electricity up to its rated capacity. The result of this demonstration test confirms that through the utilisation of the CryoPowered Regas system, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of new generation FSRUs can be reduced by 50% at maximum rated regas flow rate compared to conventional existing FSRUs.

Power generation by recovering waste energy including LNG latent heat in its regasification process is regarded as one of prospective measure to improve energy efficiency and realise low -carbon society, and MHI-MME proactively enhances its energy saving solution portfolio for marine use and contributes to further achievement of a low-carbon society.

Svitzer AMEA signs 10-year contract with FGEN LNG Corp

Svitzer recently announced that it has signed a 10-year Time Charter Party with FGEN LNG Corporation (FGEN LNG), a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Gen Corporation (First Gen), for the provision of towage and other vessel support services required by FGEN LNG’s Interim Offshore LNG Terminal. These will feature a FSRU that will be located at the First Gen Clean Energy Complex in Batangas City in the Philippines.

Svitzer will provide four new 75-ton bollard pull tugboats to assist the FSRU and LNG carriers that will deliver LNG to it - for berthing, unberthing, navigation assistance - and provide other services including fire-fighting, pollution control, port and vessel security services, pilot and boarding party transfer, and fender management.

Commenting on the contract win, Nicolai Vinther Friis, Managing Director for Svitzer AMEA, said, “We are truly pleased that FGEN LNG has chosen Svitzer as a trusted partner and provider of towage services for the FGEN LNG terminal in Batangas Bay. Our two companies share many of the same values and, at Svitzer - we look forward to collaborating with FGEN LNG on ensuring the energy security of the Philippines and to be part of the country’s green transition. This important contract adds a new country to the global Svitzer portfolio and expands our ability to provide safe and efficient towage and marine services support to more customers across the globe.”

Operations are planned to begin as early as the third quarter of 2022 and Svitzer will now take the first steps to set up operations in the Philippines, which will include hiring 72 seafarers and five onshore staff, all local Filipinos. It is a key priority for Svitzer to ensure that its operations contribute positively to the communities in which Svitzer operates, which implies investing in local communities by providing training and professional development for members of the local workforce.

Commenting on the collaboration with Svitzer, Jon Russell, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at First Gen, added, “The provision of high-quality marine services will be vital to making the FGEN Project successful and our decision to select Svitzer came after a detailed evaluation of Svitzer’s technical capabilities and experience in this specialised activity as well as its commercial and contractual competitiveness. Svitzer has a track record of successful engagements in similar projects around the world, and throughout the process demonstrated a collaborative attitude, tailoring its offer to meet the specific needs of FGEN LNG. We look forward to working closely with the Svitzer team on this exciting project that will enhance the energy security of the Philippines and play an important role in the transition to a decarbonised economy.”

SORJ

The two Svitzer tugs