16
NEWS BULLETIN
TANKER SHIPPING
SAFETY FOR CHEMICALS
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has published a fifth edition of its Tanker Safety Guide (Chemicals). The new edition provides chemical tanker operators and crew with up-to-date best practice guidance for safe and pollution-free operations on ships regulated under MARPOL Annex II. This includes oil tankers operating in accordance with Annex II when they are carrying chemical cargoes. “Senior industry experts have contributed their expertise and experience to the technical working group to help shape the new Guide,” says Chris Oliver, nautical director at ICS. “We have worked to simplify this new edition and to make it easier to use – and hence more likely to be used. Techniques learned in the aviation industry have been incorporated to make the checklists more effective and the industry’s greater understanding of human factors means that we can make the messaging more relevant to the user, and consequently more effective. “Sadly, the industry continues to see the same type of incidents time and
HCB MONTHLY | FEBRUARY 2021
time again,” Oliver continues. “We have identified these areas and expanded the guidance on key safety issues, including enclosed space entry, risk assessments and PPE. This really is the essential guide for every tanker carrying chemical cargoes.” The ICS Tanker Safety Guide (Chemicals), which is fully aligned with the latest edition of the International Safety Guide for Oil Tankers and Terminals (ISGOTT), is available from ICS Publications or maritime booksellers. https://publications.ics-shipping.org/ AVANCE GOES FOR GROWTH
Avance Gas has ordered two 91,000-m3 dual-fuel VLGCs from Daewoo SME for delivery in fourth quarter 2022 and first quarter 2023. The contract will, Avance says, enhance its “green profile” and allow it to “take another important step towards decarbonisation while contributing to a greener shipping industry and achieving the targeted 40 per cent reduction in emissions by 2030”. The two newbuildings will be able to burn LPG as fuel and, with the installation of shaft generators, will not need auxiliary engines, further reducing emissions. “The outlook for the freight market remains healthy, supported by continued strong US LPG exports and growing Asian demand. The price and terms are attractive and we expect that the vessels will also secure attractive financing in line with their environmentally friendly profile,” the company states. Meanwhile, Avance Gas Holding has appointed Kristian Sørensen as the new CEO of Avance Gas AS, with effect from 1 April. He moves from Oslo-based shipbroker Fearnleys, where he is currently CEO. “We are very pleased to get Kristian Sørensen on board. With his vast experience from the shipping and LPG markets, he will become a valuable resource to Avance Gas,” says John Fredriksen. www.avancegas.com
VLECS IN ACTION
The very large ethane carrier (VLEC) Seri Everest has successfully undertaken its first loading operation, lifting its maiden cargo of 911,000 bbl of ethane from the Orbit Gulf Coast NGL Exports terminal in Nederland, Texas on 17 January. The cargo will be delivered to Lianyungang in Jiangsu province, China, where Satellite Petrochemical has built a new ethane cracker. Orbit is a joint venture between Satellite Petrochemical USA and Energy Transfer, which is operating the Nederland facility. Energy Transfer also carried out the first ethane export from the US in March 2016, from its Marcus Hook terminal in Pennsylvania. The Nederland terminal has a 1.2m-bbl ethane storage tank and a refrigeration unit with a capacity of some 180,000 bpd. It is supplied with ethane via a 20-inch pipeline from Energy Transfer’s fractionation unit in Mont Belvieu, Texas. Seri Everest is owned and operated by MISC, which acquired six 98,000-m3 VLEC newbuildings under construction after an order by Satellite Petrochemical. MISC has now taken delivery of Seri Erlang, the second in the series, from Samsung Heavy Industries. “We look forward to the delivery of the remaining four VLECs as we progress into 2021,” says Yee Yang Chien, president/CEO of MISC. “Commencing the year on strong tailwinds, we remain positive for favourable developments in the industry and more opportunities in Asia, which has now become a vital demand centre for the ethane market.” www.energytransfer.com www.misc.com.my CARBON-NEUTRAL NAVIGATOR
Navigator Holdings says that its Handysize LPG carrier Navigator Capricorn has conducted the first carbon-neutral voyage after loading an LPG cargo for Sunoco Partners at the Marcus Hook terminal in Pennsylvania for discharge in
