Americas News
Lockheed Martin Adapting Rocket Tech for LNG Bunkering
U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin [NYSE:LMT] says technology it developed for the NASA space program may be able to simplify the bunkering of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
The company said an auto-coupler solution developed to automatically transfer cryogenic fuel for the Atlas V Launch Vehicle could be adapted for use with LNG, allowing for safe and simple bunkering of the super-cooled fuel in port.
The company is currently manufacturing marine-based LNG tanks for offshore supply vessels (OSVs) as well as land-based tanks and has received orders for the tanks from Wärtsilä Corp. (Wärtsilä) and Harvey Gulf International Marine LLC (Harvey Gulf).
"There is a growing need for storing and transporting LNG to consumers," said Rob Smith, vice president of Space & Cyber programs for Lockheed Martin Information Systems & Global Solutions.
"Having developed complex cryogenic external tanks for NASA for years, it made sense for us to apply that technological expertise to the liquefied natural gas tank market."
Wärtsilä is supplying systems for LNG-fuelled vessels being built for Harvey Gulf, one of the U.S. leaders in adoption of the fuel.
