EMEA News
New Marine LNG Tank Design Gets Approval in Principal from DNV
A new design for liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanks has received approval in principal from Det Norske Veritas (DNV), the tank's developers announced in an emailed press release.
The tank was jointly developed by Norwegian companies NLI Solutions and Wilhelmsen Technical Solutions (WTS) who said they have worked on the development of a LNG fuel tank design since 2009 in response to growing interest from shipowners on the use of LNG as a marine fuel
Two companies will now further develop the concept and aim to eventually promote it to the marine industry and small-scale LNG distributors.
In addition to carrying shipboard bunkers, the design could be a viable solution for bunker vessel tanks, storage in small LNG carriers, and small to medium size tanks on land.
"The shift towards the use of LNG for marine propulsion is said to be as significant as the shift from coal to oil but with the additional environmental benefit of lower CO2 emissions," the companies said.
"There will also be a significant financial benefit for ship owners as gas prices are expected to remain competitive over time compared to diesel and distillate products."
The tank, a prismatic, atmospheric, self-supporting steel structure with cryogenic insulation, is designed to IMO-B standards.
WTS specialises in cryogenic insulation and systems through its subsidiary Ti Marine Contracting, while NLI is an engineering and fabrication specialist.
Douglas Raitt of Lloyd's Register said last month that safe storage and other technical and infrastructure issues must be resolved if LNG is to be a viable option for marine fuel, and ports and industry players are in the process of developing regulations and frameworks for its safe handling.
