American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) on Monday (5 February) said it has granted an Approval in Principle (AIP) to Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (KHI) for its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as Fuel system design.
KHI claims the system, a dual-fuel engine capable of using both marine diesel oil and LPG as fuel, simultaneously reduces fuel consumption and enables the engine to meet NOx Tier 3 regulations.
“Using LPG as a fuel can lower emissions to air compared to conventional fuels, both in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants. We are proud to work with innovative partners such as KHI, supporting the delivery of the next generation of cleaner vessels,” said Patrick Ryan, ABS Senior Vice President, Global Engineering and Technology.
KHI’s design is for an electronically controlled LPG injection marine diesel engine (ME-LGIP), the first order placed for an engine of this type in Japan.
“LNG as fuel is attracting widespread attention as an environmentally friendly option, but LPG as fuel has advantages over LNG, including potentially reduced initial investment and simpler handling onboard. As a result, we believe LPG as fuel will prove increasingly attractive to the market in the future,” said Hideaki Naoi, General Manager, KHI.
On the same day, classification society ClassNK said it has also granted an AiP, based on its Rule Part N which adopts IGC Code and its Guidelines for Ships Using Low-Flashpoint Fuels, to Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd (KHI) for their LPG fuel supply system.
In consideration of LPG fuel’s property and the related rules, ClassNK has carried out the verification on the system from the viewpoint of minimising risks to vessels, crew, and the environment.
Following confirmation that the design of KHI’s LPG fuel supply system met the prescribed standards, ClassNK has issued the AiP.
The main features of the design announced by KHI are as follows:
(1) Cyclical system design that is compatible with propane and butane and circulates LPG in a pressurized state capable of usage at normal ambient temperature
(2) Establishing a highly safe control system by implementing risk assessment based on the IGC code
(3) System configuration applicable to merchant ships other than LPG carriers
Speaking on the occasion, Hayato Suga, Corporate Officer and Director of Plan Approval and Technical Solution Division said: “ClassNK is glad to have granted the AiP on KHI’s innovative design for the system to use LPG as ships’ fuel which tackles with the reduction of air pollution and climate changes due to emission from ships. Through our professional third-party verification on cutting edge technology, we will continue to support the spread of alternative fuel options including LPG.”
Published: 6 February, 2020
Caroline Yang, President of SSA, addresses issues earlier raised by players; including PMC No. 04, the seven-day restriction, contactless bunkering, sampling point, hose connection, and more.
IBIA Asia, ABIS, sources from Singapore’s bunkering and surveying companies, and an industry veteran share with Manifold Times the issues expected from MPA’s latest Covid-19 measures.
The top three positive movers in the 2020 bunker supplier list are Hong Lam Fuels Pte Ltd (+13); Chevron Singapore Pte Ltd (+12); and SK Energy International (+8), according to MPA list.
‘We will operate in the Singapore bunkering market from the Tokyo, with support from local staff at Sumitomo Corporation Singapore,’ source tells Manifold Times.
Changes include abolishing advance declaration of bunkers as dangerous cargo, reducing pilotage fees on vessels receiving bunkers, and a ‘whitelist’ system for bunker tankers.
Claim relates to deliveries of MGO to the vessels Pacific Diligence, Pacific Valkyrie, Pacific Defiance, Crest Alpha 1, and Pacific Warlock between March 2020 to April 2020.