Tankers Install Thermal Insulation on Bunker Tanks to Ready for 2015 ECA Rules

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Monday December 15, 2014

Three tankers have installed Intelligent Engineering (IE)'s Sandwich Plate System (SPS) overlay to convert fuel tanks ahead of Emissions Control Area (ECA) rule changes from January 1, 2015, Marine Link reports.

The ships had 50 cubic metres of SPS applied to bulkheads between adjacent fuel tanks.

Heavy fuel oil (HFO), which is still permitted outside ECAs, is kept heated in tanks, whereas marine gasoil (MGO) is used at ambient temperature, and the overlay is said to provide effective insulation between fuel tanks carrying different fuel, preventing unwanted heat transfer.

The work was undertaken by IE partner Clarkson Technical Services Offshore Marine at Ras Laffan Industrial City in Qatar, but IE claims the work can be done at sea.

"Many are converting vessels to allow switching between HFO and MGO whilst entering and leaving ECAs," said Martin Brooking, Marine Director at IE.

"The versatility of SPS Overlay means that it can provide an efficient solution that meets the requirements for strength and thermal insulation."

According to the report these are the first such applications of SPS overlay.

The SPS technology has approval from Lloyds Register (LR).

"Tank capacity wasn't compromised due to the compact thickness of SPS Overlay," said Brooking.

"No changes were made to the existing structure and there is no need for void spaces between tanks which would require through life inspection."

General Dynamics NASSCO Thursday signed a deal with Braemar LNG BV to licence designs for use on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) fuel tanks.