Asia/Pacific News
DNV, Industry Players in Australian LNG Bunkering Study
Risk management firm Det Norske Veritas (DNV) says it has joined with nine Australian maritime, port, and energy organisations in a four-month Joint Industry Project (JIP) to study the adoption of vessels fueled by liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Australian waters.
The study will cover the infrastructure and regulatory requirements for the adoption, as well as the risks and benefits that the switch would entail for industry players.
"The convergence of availability of gas, innovative technologies, progressive regulatory measures and visionary leadership will make LNG a major cleaner energy source for power generation, land and sea transportation, petrochemical feedstock and domestic gas a reality in the near future," said Sanjay Kuttan, Managing Director of DNV's Clean Technology Centre (CTC).
"The team at DNV CTC is honoured to be part of this momentum to fulfill DNV's purpose in safeguarding life, property and the environment."
The JIP will focus on offshore supply vessels and tugboats operating on the ports of Dampier, Darwin, and Melbourne, but the recommendations will also apply to other types of ships.
The JIP will deliver a gap analysis and a report on the infrastructure and legal framework, with a focus on safety and regulations, by the end of 2012.
DNV will manage the JIP, which also includes the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), BOC Limited (Linde Group), Farstad Shipping Pty. Ltd., Ports Australia, Rolls-Royce Marine AS, SVITZER Australia, Swire Pacific Offshore Operations (Pte) Ltd., Teekay Shipping (Australia) Pty. Ltd., and Woodside Energy Ltd.
Australia is now the world's fifth largest LNG exporter, and the nation's petroleum industry intends to increase production from 16.7 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) in 2009 to 60 mtpa or more by 2020, according to the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association Ltd.
