From 2015, sulfur emissions within the SECA* area must be reduced. According to the UN body IMO (International Maritime Organization), the amount of sulfur present in ship fuel must not exceed 0.1 percent by weight. The directive applies to all vessels in commercial traffic.
LNG, Liquefied Natural Gas, is the cleanest marine fuel that is completely sufur and particle free and that reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 25%. LNG also has a higher energy content than traditional marine diesel. The use of LNG also means an 80% reduction in nitrogen emissions, something that complies with the forthcoming IMO requirements that are expected to apply from 2016 for newly-built vessels.
LNG also contributes to a considerably improved working environment over traditional marine fuels.
*SECA: Sulphur Emission Control Area
Marine Fuel – Viking Line’s eco ship
AGA will be supplying LNG to Viking Line’s cruise ship with an eco profile – M/S Viking Grace – from January 2013. Viking Line’s new ship is a precursor to a more environmentally friendly Baltic Sea.
The ship is equipped with specially designed LNG tanks holding 200 cubic meters that are located on the afterdeck above the car ramp. The tanks have excellent insulating properties with double-jacketed walls that keep the gas sufficiently cool to prevent evaporation. The construction is also effective from a safety perspective as no gas is released in the event of a leak. As an extra safety measure, the ship’s gas detector system shuts off the system if a leak should occur. The pressure inside the tank is 1.5–5 bar and the temperature is -160 Celsius.
The ship’s consumption is estimated to be approximately 60 tons per day or 22,500 tons annually. The actual fueling will take place from ship-to-ship, which is a globally unique solution that AGA is developing together with Viking Line. The liquefied natural gas is delivered by truck from AGA’s LNG terminal in Nynäshamn and is transshipped to the fueling vessel at Loudden for onward transport to Stadsgården, where M/S Viking Grace will be supplied with LNG fuel.
Marine Fuel – LNG fueling ship-to-ship
AGA and Viking Line are running a joint project that involves the development of a unique solution – LNG fueling vessels that bunker ship-to-ship. An innovative solution that covers a need in the traditional distribution and logistics chain. This fueling solution streamlines the entire process, which in the case of Viking Line is essential, as the ship’s time in port is limited.
LNG is a new marine fuel within the Baltic Sea area, which involves a development project that is paving the way for new conditions and processes within the existing infrastructure. The background of the development project is based on requests from the Swedish Transport Agency and Stockholms hamn (Ports of Stockholm).
Conversion to fueling vessels
The basis for the hi-tech fueling vessel is a Norwegian car ferry that is undergoing extensive conversion work to meet global requirements for LNG tankers in accordance with the IGC code*. The advantages of the car ferry are its simplicity and easily-accessible loading deck, which acts as an optimum base platform for the LNG platform.
The vessel’s specifications:
LOA (Length Overall): 49 meters
Width: 11.25 meters
DWT (Dead Weight): 75 tons LNG
V (Velocity): 10 knots
PI (Power Installed): 750kW
GT (Gross Tonnage): 650 (abt.)
*IGC: The International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk
