Industry Players Team Up for LNG-Fuelled VLOC Project

LR, Woodside, Anangel, HHI, and GE signed an agreement for a joint design programme at Gastech 2017. Image: LR

Lloyd’s Register (LR) today announced that, along with Woodside Energy Ltd. (Woodside), Anangel Maritime Services Inc. (Anangel), Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (HHI), and General Electric Company (GE), will begin work on a design programme aimed at exploring the suitability of technologies for large ships - such as very large ore carriers (VLOCs) - that feature natural gas-propulsion.

"Novel ship propulsion design burning natural gas is considered as the most favourable option and the adoption of novel gas storage, supply and propulsion technologies are not only environmentally-friendly but also provide a wealth of possibilities for cost-efficient design and operation," explains LR.

"The next generation of cost-efficient and environmentally-friendly large ships are best defined by the design development of an alternative propulsion system, improved asset safety and reliability."

Under an agreement, which was signed this week at Tokyo's Gastech 2017, the project partners will work together to design a conventional dual-fuel powered very large ore carrier (VLOC) that incorporates proven technologies.

Following the design stage, the joint programme will then analyse the design and benefits of highly efficient next-generation LNG-fuelled propulsion systems.

"A programme of work has been agreed by the joint parties to address design, construction and operational aspects including LNG bunkering, with the aim to create a new generation of cost-efficient, safe, reliable and above all, environmentally-optimised design for large ore carriers," explains LR.

Last month, LR announced that it had also signed a joint development project agreement to work with GE and HHI on the design of a 14,000 TEU container ship powered by LNG-fuelled gas turbines and electric motors.