World's Fastest LNG Fueled Ship

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Published on Tuesday, 18 June 2013 08:08

On June 15th, 2013 with the water ballast removed, and with both port and starboard gas turbines operating on LNG an Incat built ferry achieved 58.1 knots at 100% maximum continuous revolution according to an Incat statement. Francisco has been constructed for the South American company Buquebus, for service on the River Plate, between Buenos Aires Argentina and Montevideo, Uruguay.

Incat stated the vessel’s high speed can be attributed to the combination of Incat wave piercing catamaran design, the use of lightweight, strong marine grade aluminum, and the power produced by the two 22MW GE LM2500 gas turbines driving Wartsila LJX 1720 SR water jets.

Incat is not claiming 58.1 knots as the end point of lightship trials as there was a full load of LNG on board (two 40 cubic meter tanks) in addition to about 35 tonnes of marine distillate.  Incat Chairman Robert Clifford, said “When we have less fuel on board, and delivery spares removed, we will see that speed go higher still in the shallow waters of the River Plate (Rio Plata). We are delighted with the efficiency of the design and sure that our customer, Buquebus, will be pleased with the results, enabling the ferry to compete with airline traffic on the River Plate route.” 

Buquebus Chairman Juan Carlos Lopez Mena recently announced that the vessel will be named Francisco, in honor of the Argentinean born Pope Francis. “Godmother” to the ship will be the President of Argentina, Christina Fernandez de Kirchner, who will christen Francisco following the ship’s arrival in Argentina. 

Above and below: The 99 meter LNG fueled ferry was contracted by South American company Buquebus in November 2010, for operation on their River Plate service between Buenos Aires, Argentina and Montevideo in Uruguay.  Original proposed name, Lopez Mena, the ferry will be named Francisco. Images: Incat

Harvey Gulf LNG fleet using Wärtsilä's comprehensive integrated solution

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Published on Tuesday, 18 June 2013 06:38

Wärtsilä announced they have been awarded a contract by Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc., of Panama City, Florida to supply an integrated solution for a new multipurpose support vessel (MPSV) for Harvey Gulf International Marine, LLC (HGIM) of New Orleans. This offshore vessel is the first in a series of three MPSVs being built for Harvey Gulf. The Wärtsilä contract includes an option for the supply of equipment to the remaining two vessels of the series.

The five year service agreement covers six LNG fuelled offshore supply vessels and up to three multipurpose support vessels, and includes all the Harvey Gulf vessels that have recently been fitted with Wärtsilä equipment.

According to a company statement, Wärtsilä's scope of supply includes the engines, a turnkey installation of the Wärtsilä Control & Communication Centre (3C) integrated bridge, navigation, and communication control system, and the complete electrical and automation system. Wärtsilä has also been contracted to fully integrate the supplied systems and to further interface them with other on-board systems. Wärtsilä will also be responsible for submission of the documentation required for classification society approvals.

The multi-purpose support vessel will operate in the offshore oil fields of the Gulf of Mexico, and will be owned and operated by Harvey Gulf. The ship is expected to be operational before the end of 2015. It will have the ABS Guide's Enviro + notation representing the vessel's compliance with the more stringent criteria for environmental protection.

Linde to buy 20 more LNG-fueled trucks

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Published on Tuesday, 11 June 2013 06:36

Linde North America announced today they will be increasing their commitment to LNG with the purchase of 20 LNG-fueled trucks. The trucks are expected to be deployed later this year and will be integrated into Linde's fleet of more than 700 trucks carrying cryogenic gases to customers throughout North America.

Earl Lawson, vice president, energy solutions for Linde North America, said, "The Linde LNG truck project has delivered several key benefits. Not only do the trucks save money on fuel, they also reduced Linde's carbon footprint, since natural gas burns more cleanly than diesel, yielding between 20 and 30 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions. And the natural gas used in the U.S. is produced domestically, which creates domestic jobs."

Linde's move to LNG-fueled trucks started in 2011 with the pilot program to test the effectiveness of three LNG trucks hauling liquid carbon dioxide to customers throughout the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Linde deepened its commitment to the fuel with the purchase and deployment of 20 more tractors last year. The purchase of the new trucks represents 20 percent of Linde's total tractor purchases in 2013.

As the program has transitioned from pilot to production, Linde noted they will also be investing in on-site fueling infrastructure to help develop the U.S. market. Linde's stated the growing use of LNG vehicles in its own fleet illustrates both the feasibility and advantages of switching to LNG fuel.

Fred Kinkin, head of supply for Linde North America, said, "Expanding our LNG fleet also provides advantages to our customers. LNG-fueled tractors are lighter in weight, allowing Linde to increase payloads, improve service and better manage fuel costs. In addition, the LNG tractors run more smoothly and quietly - an important benefit for our drivers who spend about 10 hours on the road each day."

LNG Central Announces the LNG America Initiative

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Published on Monday, 10 June 2013 06:57

LNG Central announced today the beginning of its "LNG America Initiative," a platform designed to provide LNG to domestic markets as a clean and economical alternative fuel choice to petroleum. LNG Central plans to develop infrastructure and obtain LNG supply in order to provide LNG to marine users for bunkering fuel and to domestic users for transportation fuel for high horsepower engines. 

As part of the LNG America Initiative, LNG Central announced they will form a new company to own and operate the logistics infrastructure needed to deliver LNG to domestic markets when and where it is needed.

LNG Central stated they have signed a letter of intent with Cheniere Energy, Inc. which sets the framework for Cheniere to arrange LNG supply for the LNG America Initiative and become an investor in the new company, subject to mutually agreeable terms.

"Through our LNG America Initiative, we will develop the infrastructure and logistics needed to become a major new provider of LNG to domestic markets," said Keith Meyer, CEO of LNG Central. "Using America's abundant natural gas supply to fuel American engines is just good business. Cheniere's interest in our LNG America Initiative represents a key building block in the development of our platform and the securing of LNG supply and we look forward to building the relationship and exploring opportunities."

Proposed Metering Station to Supply LNG to Transfuels LLC

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Published on Thursday, 06 June 2013 07:38

According to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) documents Northwest Pipeline GP (Northwest) has proposed to construct and operate a new LNG meter station and associated piping within the yard of its existing Plymouth Peak Shaving Plant (Plant).  The Plant is located on about 72 acres on the north side of the Columbia River in Benton County, Washington, about 19 miles south of the city of Kennewick.  The Plant consists of two LNG storage tanks with a capacity of 1.2 billion cubic feet each, two liquefaction trains capable of liquefying 12 million standard cubic feet per day of natural gas.

FERC has recently posted a notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed Blue Water LNG Meter Station.

According to FERC documents the proposed Blue Water LNG Meter could supply up to 216,000 gallons of LNG per day to Transfuels LLC (Transfuels). 

The facilities proposed by Northwest would include:

·                     a new 360-foot-long pipeline, supported on a pipe rack, to convey LNG from the existing transfer pipeline between the storage tanks, through the new meter runs, and then to the custody transfer point at the plant boundary fence;

·                     three new 32-foot-long meter runs and a one-inch-diameter receipt meter and three-inch-diameter piping to handle boil-off-gas coming back from the custody transfer point, all covered by a 20-foot by 24-foot shelter;

·                     two new auxiliary meters to measure gas volumes used by customers;

·                     new chromatographic gas analysis and electronic flow measurement equipment, housed in a fully enclosed building, 26-feet-long by 22-feet-wide, located adjacent to the north of the meter runs shelter;

·                     a new two-inch-diameter vent line to contain and transfer gas to an existing relief header in the event gas is released, supported on the new pipe rack; and

·                     a new cable tray to house power and communication wires, supported on the new pipe rack.

LNG Bunker Barge for large volumes design study developed by NLI Solutions, Rolls-Royce and Wilhelmsen Technical Solutions

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Published on Wednesday, 05 June 2013 08:35

Offshore oil and gas engineering specialist NLI Solutions (NLI) has developed a concept for a LNG Bunker Barge based on the NLI LNG tank design. The concept has been further developed in a design study together with the Marine division of Rolls-Royce and Wilhelmsen Technical Solutions (WTS).

According to NLI Innovation LNG bunker barges are often called the "missing link" for LNG to happen. NLI stated today only one such exists, capable of 187 m3 of LNG, whilst oceangoing ships need to bunker several thousand cbm. Building a small carrier for bunker purposes is expensive and the NLI suggestion is a high-tech low cost barge, the HighTechBarge (HTB).

NLI noted the HTB will for safety reasons be very maneuverable with pod-drives, as is used in offshore support vessels, have state-of-the-art electronics for danger detection and early evasive maneuvering.

The NLI LNG tank is an atmospheric, prismatic steel tank, type "B", in this study capable of containing 4000 m3 of LNG. It will be covered with a new insulation system with very low levels of boil off gas (BOG).

The HTB has a large pressure tank on the aft deck for BOG handling and gas delivery to engine.

The study has been carried out and planned with:

- NVC, responsible for design, Bergen gas engine, pod drives and bridge systems

- TI Marine Contracting (part of WTS) responsible for insulation systems

- NLI responsible for tank, LNG/gas systems, bunkering systems

The HTB study is being presented at Wilhelmsens stand E03-05 at Nor-Shipping 4th-7th of June.

Westport Innovations Inc. announces LNG gas tender product solution

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Published on Wednesday, 05 June 2013 07:19

Westport Innovations Inc. today announced the launch of a liquefied natural gas tender product solution with an order for four tenders from Canadian National Railway. The first tender to supply fuel to an adjacent natural-gas powered locomotive will be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2013.

"There is growing consensus around the enormous potential of using LNG as a fuel for locomotives and there is a clear path for the industry to achieve this shift to a cleaner, cheaper and domestically available fuel," said Nicholas Sonntag, Executive Vice-President at Westport. "The Westport LNG Tender leverages our substantial expertise in LNG storage, cryogenic systems, and natural gas fuel delivery for mobile applications to create a product that will immediately help railroads to validate the value of LNG in their operations today, with a built-in upgrade pathway to the next-generation locomotives coming over the next few years."

Westport is collaborating with INOXCVA on these tenders. Westport and INOXCVA have entered into an agreement for cryogenic systems to be able to rapidly meet the near-term demand in the rail industry. 

Westport stated putting the LNG on a Westport LNG Tender, rather than simply replacing the diesel fuel tanks on existing locomotives, offers a number of advantages:

- More than 10,000 gallons LNG capacity—provides longer range than a diesel locomotive, reducing the need for LNG refueling infrastructure and refueling stops

- Intelligent fueling controls will allow tenders to supply fuel to natural gas locomotives from virtually any manufacturer, reducing operational complexity and investment in different proprietary fuel supply solutions

- Each tender can support two locomotives, reducing the capital investment required to move to LNG

- Utilizes an industry standard vehicle design and 40' LNG ISO tank, which minimizes cost and will allow production volumes to be rapidly increased as the industry migrates to LNG

"CN is testing natural gas locomotives and Westport's experience in providing LNG solutions for transportation makes it the natural partner for us," said Gerry Weber, CN Vice-President Supply, Fleet and Fuel Management. "These tenders will be used immediately with our dual fuel locomotives in mainline service, allowing CN to continue to explore this technology as a means to advance the company's sustainability agenda and improve environmental emissions."

Applied Natural Gas Fuels to supply the Orange County Transportation Authority with LNG

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Published on Wednesday, 05 June 2013 06:57

Applied Natural Gas Fuels, Inc. announced today that it has entered into a long term supply agreement with the Orange County Transportation Authority to provide liquefied natural gas to its fleet of 282 LNG buses.

“We are pleased to continue our relationship and enter into this new agreement with OCTA to provide its buses with economical and environmentally friendly LNG fuel,” said Cem Hacioglu, ANGF’s President and CEO.

The long-term contract calls for ANGF to provide OCTA with an average of 400,000 gallons of LNG per month for the two fueling stations OCTA owns and operates.

Rolls-Royce LNG conversion project for high-speed Ferries

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Published on Tuesday, 04 June 2013 08:19

Rolls-Royce announced today they have signed a memorandum of understanding with Spanish shipping company Baleària, to design gas-powered propulsion systems for three of the company's high-speed ferries, which currently run on diesel.

Baleària, which operates ferry services between the Spanish mainland and the Balearic Islands, in the Strait of Gibraltar and The Bahamas Islands, is proposing the conversion of three ferries from diesel to liquefied natural gas.

Adolfo Utor, the Baleària Chief Executive Officer said: "This is a strategic agreement for the future of the company. The change in fuels will allow us to have high-speed, more competitive vessels available and, at the same time, be more respectful towards the environment, given that this fuel reduces CO2 emissions by 25%."

Neil Gilliver, Rolls-Royce, President - Merchant said: "There is no doubt that popularity of LNG as a marine fuel is increasing, as stricter emission controls and higher fuel costs continue to drive the strategic decisions of shipping companies. This is our first LNG project in Spain, which joins a growing list of countries where operators are keen to investigate the potential applications for a marine fuel that will reduce emissions and reduce operating costs."

"We are delighted to be working with Baleària on this project which demonstrates that LNG is now a serious option for converting existing fleets, as well as for new builds."

The Baleària project will involve developing an economic and technical proposal to convert three ferries - the HSC Ramon Llull, HSC Jaume II and HSC Jaume III - to LNG power.

Rolls-Royce will work with Baleària on developing efficient propulsion systems for the vessels which are a mix of catamaran and mono-hull design, with water jet propulsion. Spanish company Cotenaval will lead the naval architecture aspects of the conversions.

Rolls-Royce to design gas-powered propulsion systems for Baleària high-speed ferries (image: Rolls-Royce)

New LNG Station opens in Myton, Utah

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Published on Monday, 03 June 2013 07:27

On May 29^th, 2013 the Blu. liquefied and compressed natural gas (LNG/CNG) fueling station officially opened in Myton, Utah.  The Myton Blu. station offers liquefied and compressed natural gas as well as diesel and gasoline. It has two LNG dispensers and four CNG fueling positions.  According to Blu LNG at full build out, the station will incorporate six LNG dispensers and twelve CNG fueling positions, making the station one of the largest LNG/CNG stations in North America. It will serve trucks traveling along the Highway 40 corridor as well as trucks supporting oil and gas production companies in the Uintah Basin.

"The station," saidIrene Rizzaof the Utah Clean Cities Coalition, "is a critical link in the natural gas network that we're developing here inUtah, which is number one in the nation per capita."