ABS Grants AiP to LNG Carrier Powered by Dual Fuel Gas Turbine

The vessel's dual fuel gas turbine operates on either the carrier’s cargo of boil off gas or MGO.

General Electric Company (GE) has announced that GE's Marine Solutions and Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co., Ltd. (HZ) have received Approval in Principal (AiP) from ABS for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier design, powered by GE’s Combined Gas Turbine Electric and Steam (COGES) system.

The GE gas turbine is noted to be dual fuel capable, operating on either the carrier’s cargo of boil off gas or MGO.

"We are delighted to work with Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding on this 178,000 cubic-metre LNG carrier design that will use our efficient, reliable and dual-fuel marine gas turbine," said Brien Bolsinger, Vice President of Marine Operations at GE.

"With AIP in hand from ABS, customers can now procure this LNG carrier that is capable of meeting Tier III International Maritime Organization and Tier 4 United States Environmental Protection Agency emissions requirements today."

The COGES arrangement is said to be compact and lightweight, giving the vessel an additional 4,000 cubic meters (cbm) of LNG cargo space compared to traditional 174,000 cbm LNG carriers with dual fuel diesel engines, and is a full 80 percent lighter and 30 percent smaller than comparable two-stroke diesels.

GE says that the COGES system enables lower life cycle costs, "negligible" lubricating oil consumption, no methane slip, and requires no pilot fuel or exhaust treatment.

"New technologies and innovations are essential ingredients for sustainable growth of the marine industry and protection of our natural environment," says Bill Shi, ABS Vice President of Engineering, Greater China Division.

"We are pleased to be an integral part of this joint development project with a great potential to reduce exhaust emissions."

In April, GE announced that, under the request of Construcciones Navales Paulino Freire (Freire Shipyard), it was set to provide a marine solutions package, including the electric power and propulsion system, to the Peruvian Navy's first-ever hybrid diesel-electric propelled research vessel.