KLAW LNG develops SIL2 HTS LNG bunkering system on “Cardissa”
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by Admin
KLAW LNG, a subsidiary of Signum Technology Group, says it has recently developed a compact level 2 Safety Integrity Level and Safety Instrumented System (SILSIS) for the Hose Transfer System (HTS) of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering vessel.
The development, conducted through a collaboration with Royal Dutch Shell, has enabled the oil major’s specialised LNG bunker tanker Cardissa to become the world’s first LNG bunkering vessel equipped with a SIL2 HTS system.
The integral two-stage emergency shutdown (ESD) system provides an escalated response on demand, triggered automatically by vessel movement or manually by the crew.
The first stage ESD1 shuts down cargo transfer pumps and isolates transfer lines, sounding a warning alarm. These measures inhibit the transfer and mitigate the risk of spillage.
The second stage ESD2, which is also activated automatically or manually, activates emergency release couplings and separates the transfer system.
The SIL2 HTS system was used in the ship-to-ship bunkering operating of Sovcomflot’s LNG-powered Aframax tanker Gagarin Prospect – it was the first LNG ship-to-ship bunkering operation at the Port of Rotterdam and the first LNG bunkering of an Aframax tanker.
“We are particularly proud that this is the world’s first SIL2 compliant Ship-to-Ship bunkering HTS system, largely due to the fully-automated Programme Logic Controlled (PLC) Safety Instrumented System, designed to continuously monitor and diagnose for the highest levels of safety and operational readiness,” said Jeff Vile, Signum Technology’s Sales and Compliance Director.
“The architecture removes almost all human inputs from the transfer system set up and operation. This maximises cost-efficient availability and vastly reduces the potential for human error. It also ensures that the components work seamlessly together and can be effectively managed over the system’s entire life cycle.”
Related: SCF’s LNG-fuelled tanker used ‘non-standard engineering solutions’
Related: Rotterdam marks first STS LNG bunkering operation
Photo credit: Shell
Published: 15 July, 2019
