Singapore shipyard Keppel Offshore & Marine, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Keppel Singmarine, Wednesday held a naming ceremony for KST Liberty – the company’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered dual fuel tug.
“Today’s christening of KST Liberty marks an important milestone in Singapore’s journey to make LNG bunkering available at our port as early as 2020,” says Loh Ngai Seng, Permanent Secretary at Singapore’s Ministry of Transport.
“I congratulate Keppel O&M and Keppel Smit Towage for taking the lead, under MPA’s LNG Bunkering Pilot Programme, to build and operate Singapore’s first LNG-fuelled vessel. Such partnerships bring us closer to our goal of cleaner and more sustainable marine fuels.”
The 65-tonne bollard pull LNG dual-fuel Azimuth Stern Drive (ASD) tug was built to Keppel’s proprietary design which won the Outstanding Maritime R&D and Technology Award at the 2015 Singapore International Maritime Awards.
“We are pleased to support Keppel Smit Towage and the industry’s push towards adopting LNG as marine fuel with this upcoming delivery of South East Asia and Singapore’s first LNG-powered tug,” notes Abu Bakar, Managing Director (Gas & Specialised vessels) of Keppel O&M.
“Our award-winning dual-fuel tug design offers more economical operations with efficient fuel consumption; a simplified bunkering process; optimised deck space that increases the safety and comfort of the crew; and ease of operations.”
According to Keppel, smart designs were incorporated to enhance the tug’s safety and comfort.
The LNG fuel is carried in containerised, type-C ISO-certified tanks on the main deck, and re-fuelling can be done by truck to ship operations or replacing the empty tanks with replenished ones. It is equipped with an innovative and patented LNG vaporiser which is compact and cost-effective.
“This is a state-of-the-art tug, with environmentally-friendly features that exceed the requirements of the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) global cap of 0.5% on the sulphur content of marine fuel that comes into force on 1st January, 2020,” adds Romi Kaushal, Managing Director of Keppel Smit Towage.
“It will have substantially reduced CO2 emissions relative to traditional tugs and be a much welcomed green initiative. KST Liberty will also increase our capabilities as the fitted LNG tanks will allow for extended harbour operations without the need for re-fuelling, enhancing operational efficiency.
“It is also more compact, compared to tugs of the same bollard pull, providing enhanced manoeuvrability. We have built a strong partnership with Keppel over the years who have demonstrated their ability to design and deliver quality vessels that meet our needs.”
Shell will be supplying LNG fuel to KST Liberty while FueLNG, a joint venture between Keppel O&M and Shell Eastern Petroleum (Pte) Ltd., will be providing the LNG bunkering services.
LNG bunkering of the tug will be conducted at Jurong Port which is able to support LNG bunkering operations.
Photo credit: Keppel Corporation
Published: 26 April, 2018
Remodelled ship, deemed to be the world’s largest LNG bunkering vessel, will be able to perform STS transfers to large LNG-fuelled vessels berthing at domestic coastal ports.
Changjiang (Yangtze) National Shipping Group spent $456,000 on the modification to use LNG as a bunker fuel.
Methane slip from marine engines needs to be virtually eliminated and methane leaks upstream need to be greatly reduced for renewable LNG to contribute in achieving climate goals, says report.
‘The company expects all vessels it orders to be using LNG as marine fuel, except where a charterer specifically asks to do otherwise,’ says Igor Tonkovidov.
Firm also carried out gassing up and cooling down of “Vox Ariane” in March and provided LNG as a bunker fuel for the dreger’s commissioning ops.
‘H54DF’ is the world's largest among medium-sized engines with a maximum output of 36,000 horsepower.
Transferred shares of 40 subsidiaries to BVI firm after tribunal awarded claims in favour of Trinity Seatrading; YSPL has also filed a civil complaint against DNV and Liberian ship registry at Nanjing Maritime Court.
ADNOC L&S, Gulf Energy Maritime, Cockett Marine Oil, Mideast/Bahri Ship Management and VPS experts present their views on biofuel bunker hurdles at the VPS Biofuels Seminar in Dubai on 16 March.
‘Bunker barges operate in very local areas so these vessels call at port very often which means it will be a good fit for women with families,’ states Elpi Petraki, President of WISTA International.
“Our Singapore branch is under preparation and is expected to start business at the republic before June 2023,” Managing Director Darcy Wong tells bunkering publication Manifold Times in an interview.
Development to supply B35 biodiesel blend officially takes effect on 1 February; local bunker suppliers will be able to deliver updated spec within March onwards, once current stocks of B30 avails run out.
VPS, Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation, Wilhelmsen Ship Management, and INTERTANKO executives offered a multitude of perspectives to 73 attendees during the VPS Biofuels Seminar, reports Manifold Times.
