Maritime News

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First LNG Powered Vessel with GL Class



10. Sep. 2010 | The 25,000 DWT product tanker "Bit Viking" will be converted to run on LNG. It will then be the first ship with Germanischer Lloyd (GL) class using gas as fuel. The ship will be retro-fitted with a dual fuel Wärtsilä engine. Sea trials are planned for May 2011.

With two 500 m³ tanks, the vessel will have a range of 12 days. It is owned by Tarbit Shipping and operated by Statoil along the Norwegian coastline. The conversion will enable the vessel to qualify for lower NOX emission taxes under the Norwegian government's NOX fund scheme.

The 'Bit Viking' has twin screw propulsion, with each screw currently powered by a 6-cylinder in-line Wärtsilä 46 engine running on heavy fuel oil (HFO). The conversion involves changing these to 6-cylinder in-line Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel engines that will operate on LNG. The ship is built with double engine rooms, propellers, steering gears, rudders and control systems. After conversion, for which Tarbit Shipping chose Wärtsilä, the 'Bit Viking' will be one of the safest and most environmental friendly 25,000 ton product tankers in the world.

"The use of LNG could reduce carbon emissions by 23%, with even bigger reductions of 80% in NOx and 92% in SOx emissions", said Dr Pierre Sames at GL's press conference during the SMM yesterday. "Using gas as a fuel can be one of the major contributors to meeting emissions targets."

GL has issued guidelines for gas as ship fuel on the application of the IMO regulations. These guidelines are in force since 1 May and apply to all ships excluding liquefied gas tankers. The internal combustion engine installations subject to the IMO interim guidelines may be single-fuel (i.e. natural gas) or dual-fuel (gas and fuel oil) machines, and the natural gas may be stored in gaseous or liquid state. The guidelines are to be applied in conjunction with the relevant provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974, and the Protocol of 1988 relating thereto, as amended.

Find out more about gas as ship fuel in the SMM-edition of GL's customer magazine nonstop (pages 22 - 25).

http://www.gl-group.com/pdf/nonstop_2010-02_E.pdf

Source: http://www.gl-group.com/en/press/news_20891.php?et_cid=2&et_lid=23092

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Fuel cell systems can substitute 160 GW of auxiliary engines worldwide

9. Sep. 2010 | GL releases market study for fuel cell systems on seagoing vessels.

The installed auxiliary power onboard of seagoing vessel has a market potential of approximately 160 GW worldwide and can, in principle, substituted by fuel cells in order to reduce emissions to air. This is one of the conclusions of a market study for fuel cell systems carried out by Germanischer Lloyd (GL) and the Hamburg City Administration for Urban Development and Environment.

GL experts examined the technical possibilities, the currently available technology, integration concepts and the legal background for the use of fuel cells on board of ships. The target prices for fuel cell systems have been analysed as well as the market size onboard seagoing vessels. For the study approximately 53 % of the world merchant fleet have been analysed.

The study also shows that five years after the finalisation of the development of first systems for commercial shipping, fuel cell systems can be competitive in comparison with traditional diesel engines from an economic point of view - even if the prices for fuel cell systems will be higher at this time.

The first identified markets for fuel cell application are cruise vessels, RoPax vessels and mega yachts. With fuel cell system reaching economic competitiveness, a much larger market for ship types like container feeders will be open.

"The study concludes that fuel cell systems have a high market potential in shipping in the future", says Dr Gerd-Michael Würsig, GL's expert for fuel cell technology and one of the authors of the study. "Today, still some technical challenges have to be overcome. But current and ongoing projects already demonstrate the suitability of fuel cells systems for power generation on board of ships. Fuel cell will be one technology of the future for environmental friendly power generation on board!"

Environmental concerns, environmental regulations and high energy prices force the shipping industry to more efficient and greener vessel. One solution to achieve this goal is the use of fuel cell systems for power generation on board.

Apart from the high efficiency of the fuel cell system of more than 50 %, the very low or no emissions (depending on the fuel type) are a big argument for the use of fuel cell systems on board of ships. Further more, the modular design and the negligible noises and vibrations give the fuel cell system a big advantage compared to traditional power generation on board of ships.

GL has been involved in developing ships, storage and transfer facilities for hydrogen. As the world's first classification society, it has developed its own guidelines for the use of fuel cells in watercraft. These not only cover fuel cells and fuel systems but also standards for the materials used, ventilation systems, fire-fighting equipment, explosion protection and other safety systems. They also give guidance on testing the fuel-cell system.

For more information on the study please contact:
Finn Vogler
Germanischer Lloyd
Environmental Research
Phone: +49 40 36149-7209
Email: Finn.vogler@gl-group.com