container ships
Tapping new technologies for more efficient TEU transport
Gas fuel and propulsor developments are exploited in new ship designs for feeder and longhaul trades, targeting higher operating economy and emissions compliance
by Doug Woodyard
and yards. Germanischer Lloyd and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) last year demonstrated the feasibility of running large tonnage on LNG, with GL approving in principle a 14,000 TEU vessel for the Korean group. “New technology is needed as cleaner transport is increasingly demanded and maritime environmental regulations are becoming ever stricter,” explains Frederick Ebers, GL’s vice president and area manager for North East Asia. “DSME and GL have acknowledged this challenge and agreed in 2010 to jointly start exploring technology options and safety concepts for large LNG-fuelled container vessels.” Most technical systems have since been developed and examined and the major challenge lies in how to apply the technologies, especially in ensuring safe bunkering procedures, reports Dr Gerd-Michael Wuersig, deputy head of GL’s Environmental Research department and a member of the IMO’s group for developing the Code for Gas as Ship Fuel (IGF-Code): “You have to guarantee there is no gas spill and that protection measures against incidents and collisions are sufficient. Relevant solutions are under evaluation and will be available soon.” Meanwhile, he added, there is no need to hesitate in building vessels on the basis
S of
interim guidelines MSC.285(86) because LNG- fuelled tonnage built according to these will certainly be allowed to operate even if the IGF- Code is enforced.
The IMO’s controls on the sulphur content of marine fuels from 2015 and its requirements from 2016 for 80 per cent reductions in NOx emissions compared with the 2010 level will make conventional fuel unattractive, Dr Wuersig suggests. But LNG can be an environmentally and economically sound option, its high efficiency
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ignificant interest in gas-fuelled container ships is reflected in a number of projects involving leading classification societies
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W.B.TK P.D. DB
W.B.TK Midship section of Daewoo’s BV-approved 14,000 TEU gas-powered container ship
and lower impact promising a new era: “LNG- fuelled cargo ships will emerge on a large scale in the latter half of this decade,” he predicts. “And there is great potential for container ships to become one of the first types using LNG as fuel.” An agreement between GL and Japanese shipbuilder IHI Marine United will pursue a conceptual study for a 13,000 TEU LNG-fuelled vessel. IHIMU launched its 13000C design in 2010, with GL reviewing the main hull structure. A new joint project focuses on the LNG fuelling system, which embraces the bunker station, tanks, gas preparation and gas lines. IHIMU is designing the key elements of the system, with GL undertaking the design review, hazard identification and – on successful completion of the project – approval in principle. Assessing the safety performance of
the
gas supply system will be the key aspect of GL’s contribution.
Approval in principle has been granted by another major classification society, Bureau Veritas, for the basic design of a 14,000 TEU container ship to be powered by LNG. The design was developed in a joint industry project by DSME, liner major CMA-CGM and BV. “The market will determine when these
ships can be ordered and built, but this is a real milestone as for the first time we have a fully worked and approved design for a mainline ultra-large container ship running on LNG,” says BV deputy technical director Jean- Francois Segretain. “After an in-depth HAZID analysis we can say with confidence that there are no technical or safety barriers to introducing LNG as a fuel for
Marine Propulsion I February/March 2012 I 27
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No.1 LNG Fuel TK (T&S)
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