New "Future-Proof" LNG Bulker Design Unveiled

Oshima says the vessel design will be very attractive for charterers, especially for trade routes where the LNG fuel price is competitive to HFO

DNV GL Thursday announced the presentation of an Approval in Principle certificate to Oshima Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (Oshima) at the Nor-Shipping exhibition in Oslo for a newly unveiled dual fuel Kamsarmax bulk carrier that can use both liquid natural gas (LNG) and HFO to power the main engine, the generators, and the boiler.

Morten Løvstad, Bulk Carrier Business Director at DNV GL, said the ship design "offers customers a flexible, safe, future-proof solution and the opportunity to almost eliminate SOx emissions and particulate matter, cut NOx by 80 percent with Exhaust Gas Recirculating (EGR) and reduce CO2."

"Taking all relevant factors into account, we found that a LNG-fuelled Kamsarmax bulk carrier, which only uses LNG in Emission Control Areas, would require 500–700 m3 of LNG and one bunkering operation for a round trip between Europe and North America."

DNV GL added that the vessel would require 2,000–2,500 m3 of LNG if powered with LNG for the entire voyage.

The vessel is said to have a U-shape design to accommodate the LNG tank in its centre to make effective use of space, while still allowing the accommodation deck house to be completely separated from the LNG storage tank, as well as enabling scalability of the amount of LNG storage onboard.

"One of the main factors for shipowners and operators considering the use of LNG as ship fuel is the space required to store LNG on board," said Tatsurou Iwashita, Director and General Manager of the Design Department at Oshima

"But as a result of our changes to the superstructure, our design does not reduce the vessel's cargo capacity.

"Combined with its dual fuel capabilities, this should make the design very attractive for charterers, especially for trade routes where the LNG fuel price is competitive to HFO and substantially cheaper than marine gas oil (MGO)," added Iwashita.

In March, Ole Hjertaker, CEO at Ship Finance International (SFI), said at the CMA Shipping 2015 conference in Stamford, U.S., that dual fuel engines are also likely to gain in popularity among box shippers in the coming years.