BUREAU Veritas has given its approval in principle for a containerised LNG fuel tank system developed by Marine Service and Newport Shipping.
Newport Shipping is a UK ship repair specialist, and Hamburg-based Marine Service, owned by the Krämer Group, is a marine engineering and consultancy company.
The 40-foot ISO LNG fuel tank container system is suitable for LNG-fuelled newbuildings and retrofits of container vessels.
The LNG fuel tank container is a class approved Type C LNG fuel tank in accordance with the IGF-code and is based on German TÜV certified IMDG Container.
The capacity of the tank is 31 gross tonnes and about 33 cubic metres of LNG.
The containers have a fail-safe dry quick coupling connection and are approved for loading in up to seven layers high stacks. The stainless-steel double-walled tank is also vacuum insulated and has up to 80 days holding time.
The concept consists of container stowage on free deck in safe area. LNG piping and venting systems, as well as firefighting systems are integrated in the container cell guides structure.
The gas-handling room is arranged adjacent to the container storage and separated from the containers by a cofferdam and fire protection means, allowing to feed low pressure and high pressure fuel gas systems for all known 4-stroke and 2-stroke dual fuel engines.
A full redundant control, alarm and monitoring system for remote system operation, gas and fire alarm with interface to ships’ automation is part of the system.
Since LNG containers are portable, the total number of containers can be easily optimised according to the owners’ requirements.
When a ship is in port, the empty containers can be taken out and replaced by new filled ones.
Newport Shipping managing director Ingmar Loges said: “The global shipping industry faces unprecedented challenges as environmental regulations tighten. The shipping industry needs alternatives. The containerised LNG concept provides an answer to these challenges.”
Marine Service chairman Christian Krämer said: “We are glad to have reached an approval in principle from BV for our containerised LNG as fuel system. LNG is one of the most promising alternative fuels.”
