COSCO to work with DSIC on first LNG-fuelled VLCC
The high-profile cooperation project was announced by Liu Hanbo, the general manager of CSET, and Liu Zheng, chairman of DSIC, as well as Yang Zhizhong, the general manager of DSIC.
The vessel will be the world’s first EEDI Phase 3-compliant VLCC. The vessel will use LNG as its principal fuel, and in gas fuel mode the design achieves a 30 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions to comply with Phase 3 of the EEDI regulations. According to CSET, the overall reduction is expected to be around 20 percent, compared with conventional fuels. The dual fuel engines meet IMO NOx Tier III requirements in gas fuel mode, and reduce SOx emissions by over 95 percent.
CEST noted that the innovative project would also require modifications to LNG fuelling standards and existing VLCC inspection protocols.
Classification society DNV GL awarded DISC’s dual-fuel VLCC design approval in principle (AiP) in December 2015. The original design featured deck mounted Type C LNG fuel tanks on the open area of the aft deck, which DSIC said minimizes the influence on the arrangement of the deck house and increases cargo capacity. DSIC has subsequently adopted a similar optimised aft deck integrated arrangement for the LNG gas supply system, safety system and filling system in other dual-fuel vessel designs.
In 2015, DNV GL noted that the LNG fuel tanks give the vessel the capability of performing a round trip from the Middle East to the US without refuelling.
