Readiness for switching to liquefied natural gas propulsion is increasingly sought for new vessels being ordered at the high end of shipbuilding. Oil tanker specialist Dynacom Tankers Management is the first to apply for the “Gas Prepared” notation from international classification society Bureau Veritas, for six Suezmax tankers being built at Jiangsu News Times Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. in Jianxing City in China.
The 157,000 dwt tankers will measure 274.3 meters in length, with a beam of 48 meters and depth of 23.2 meters. Delivery is expected in 2017 and 2018.
The ‘gas-prepared’ notation sets out requirements for ships that are designed and fitted out for dual-fuel LNG or fuel propulsion, but which aren’t initially intended to use gas as a fuel. It provides owners with the flexibility to convert easily to dual fuel or LNG fuel propulsion in the future.
Jean-Francois Segretain, Marine & Offshore Technical Director, Bureau Veritas said: “Using natural gas as fuel enables owners to comply with the requirements of Emission Control Areas in North America and Europe, and can be cost effective in the long term.
In publishing the notation, Bureau Veritas sought to provide owners with the ability to switch to LNG in the future when market circumstances are right.
Applying for ‘gas-prepared’ notation is a significant step in future-proofing a new vessel and we look forward to working with Dynacom, the first owner in the market to choose this solution.”
Bureau Veritas’ Rule Note NR 627 Gas-Prepared Ships, published in late 2015, sets out how the initial design of the ship is to take into account the necessary spaces or areas to accommodate alt-fuel technology including:
- LNG bunkering station
- LNG storage tanks
- Fuel gas handling system
- Ventilation systems
The Gas Prepared notation may be modified with the addition of:
- S When specific arrangements are Implemented for the ship structure
- P When specific arrangements for piping are Implemented
- ME-DF When the hand engine (s) is (are) of the dual-fuel types
- AEB When the auxiliary engines and oil-fired boilers are Either of the dual-fuel type or designed for future conversion to dual-fuel operation.
(Source: Bureau Veritas)
