Netherlands’ Veka-Group develops new LNG tankers

Veka-Group has developed three new LNG tankers, which can also be used as bunker ships. Two tankers are destined for short sea trips and/or coastal services. The third tanker, a LNG inland waterway bunker ship, is the first of its type in the world. The tanker sails almost completely on the ‘boil off’ of the load and is 100% emission-free. After the introduction of the first bi-fuel tanker in the world, the “Pioneer Knutsen”, this is again a proof of Veka-Group’s innovative power.
With the “Pioneer Knutsen”, Bijlsma Shipyard, member of the Veka-Group, was years ahead of her time. ‘It was the first bi-fuel LNG tanker ever built’, says managing director Arend Bijlsma. ‘Especially for this project we have developed new technology for the storage of LNG and for the use of LNG as fuel for the propulsion engines. The combination of these two techniques made it possible to sail the tanker for a significant part on the ‘boil off’ (the gas that is released by keeping the load on the correct temperature). The engine switches to diesel in case of insufficient ‘boil off’ availability, which explains the term bi-fuel.’ Thanks to these innovations applied when building the “Pioneer Knutsen”, the design received the ‘Clean Marine Award ’ from the European Commission.

German Company designs LNG dual-fuel LNG transport vessels

Hamburg’s TECHNOLOG, as a partner of the German engineering alliance IPP, develops the first LNG-Dual-Fuel powered offshore transport vessel for JIANGSU HANTONG SHIP HEAVY INDUSTRY.

This means that the ship can be operated both with conventional fuels as well as with very environmentally friendly LNG (liquid natural gas). The corresponding contract has now been signed. Project-related co-operation agreements were made with engine manufacturer MAN Diesel & Turbo as well as with the classification society Germanischer Lloyd. The new ship design will reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by around 33 per cent compared to conventional powered new constructions.

“With our support, the HANTONG Group will be able to offer a technologically first-class vessel to the world market that also meets the most stringent international regulations on environmental protection”, explains Hans-Jürgen Voigt, Managing Director of TECHNOLOG.

Should the U.S. export Nat Gas?

Ezra Klein at The Washington Post had a post on his Wonkblog this week that asked whether we should be exporting our natural gas reserves as LNG to the rest of the world. Here are some of the pros and cons:

As the Council of Foreign Relations’ Michael Levi has argued, boosting natural-gas exports could have both ups and downs. On the beneficial side, the United States could strategically use its gas to help Europe wean itself off its dependence on Russian exports. What’s more, other countries might find better opportunities to displace oil with natural gas than the United States can, which, in turn, could put much-needed downward pressure on world oil prices.

On the minus side, Levi notes, making U.S. natural gas more expensive could also make it harder for the United States to tackle climate change at home — after all, cheap natural gas is expected to displace some 9 percent of U.S. coal demand by 2035. That, in turn, would make it even less likely that the United States plays a crucial leading role in averting drastic climate change.

What do you think?

Dominion sues Sierra Club for right to build LNG plant

Dominion said it has filed a lawsuit to confirm its right to construct a natural gas liquefaction project at its Cove Point liquefied natural gas terminal in Lusby, Md. The company filed a complaint for declaratory judgment in response to an erroneous claim by the Sierra Club that the club has the authority to block the project.

The plain language of a 2005 agreement, to which Dominion and the Sierra Club are parties, specifically permits all the activities related to the planned liquefaction project, Dominion said in a complaint filed with the Circuit Court of Calvert County, Md.

“This project is of immense value to Calvert County, the state of Maryland and the United States,” said Gary L. Sypolt, CEO of the company’s Dominion Energy business unit. “We have a long history of working with our environmental partners at Cove Point. Although the Sierra Club has chosen not to work with us in this instance, we are confident we are right and believe the best time to resolve this issue is now.”
Once completed, the liquefaction project is expected to handle natural gas exports that would reduce the U.S. trade deficit by more than $2.8 billion per year. It also would generate directly and indirectly about $1 billion annually in additional federal, state and local government revenues.

In Calvert County alone, the project could produce additional property tax revenue of up to $40 million per year and would make Dominion the county’s largest taxpayer. Over the life of the project, it would have an estimated economic impact on Calvert County of $1.3 billion. The project would generate 2,500 to 3,100 construction jobs and 70 to 100 permanent jobs in Calvert County.

In contrast to previous projects at Cove Point, including a 2005 expansion of the facility, the Sierra Club declined Dominion’s offer to discuss how to undertake the project in the most ecologically sound manner. Instead, the club and its Maryland chapter last month delivered a letter demanding the company abandon the project.

Liquid Natural Gas Is Safe

When people hear about liquid natural gas, they sometimes fear that it could be dangerous. The fact is that LNG and CNG are much safer than gasoline. Here is an old video that explains why LNG is so safe:

Read more on this topic here.