Classification society DNV GL and Keppel Marine and Deepwater Technology (KMDTech), a subsidiary of Keppel Offshore & Marine (Keppel O&M), announced that they have signed a framework agreement to boost the uptake of LNG as ship fuel. The agreement covers potential newbuilding projects including LNG bunker vessels, small-scale LNG carriers and floating storage regasification units (FSRUs), as well as LNG related assets employing battery and hybrid technologies. The design and engineering collaborative office will be located at KMDTech Singapore, with Keppel O&M’s yards to undertake the project execution.
Abu Bakar Mohd Nor, Managing Director of Keppel O&M for Gas and Specialized Vessels, said: “We are pleased to partner with DNV GL in developing a suite of LNG related vessels that are ready to meet the needs of the market as the adoption of LNG as ship fuel increases. Working with DNV GL enables us to demonstrate the strength of our vessel designs and the viability of LNG for ship owners.”
As the first delivery in the agreement, DNV GL will issue Approval in Principle (AiP) certificates for two LNG bunker vessel designs from KMDTech: a 7,500 cbm small-scale LNG carrier with bunkering capabilities and a 7,500 cbm small-scale LNG carrier with bunkering capabilities and hybrid battery propulsion. The LNG carriers are each designed to carry up to 7,500 cubic meters of LNG in Type C-tanks. An optimized deck arrangement for the modular LNG gas supply, filling and safety systems increases the cargo capacity and efficiency of the vessels. They are equipped with engines that can run on both diesel and LNG, and will also have a class notation for bunkering which enables the provision of LNG bunkering services if required.
“One of the objectives of our collaboration with Keppel is to facilitate the increased supply of LNG bunkering infrastructure by being future ready through design approvals of different sizes of LNG bunker vessels, and LNG-related assets such as small-scale LNG carriers and FSRU,” added Johan Peter Tutturen, Business Director Gas Carriers in DNV GL.
The collaboration is also intended to further advance asset design by optimizing machinery and systems configuration to increase fuel efficiency. Additionally, the parties will work together to establish round table discussions involving all stakeholders in the LNG-as-fuel value chain, including gas and LNG bunker suppliers, designers, shipbuilders, shipowners and operators, in an effort to increase the uptake in demand for LNG bunkering in Singapore and beyond.
Source: DNV GL
