AETs next-gen dual-fuel DPSTs named

Powered using liquified natural gas (LNG) as primary fuel, the LNG Dual-Fuel Dynamic Positioning Shuttle Tankers (DPSTs) will also be able to capture 100% of the volatile organic compounds (VOC) which are produced by crude oil cargoes during loading and voyages for reuse as a supplementary fuel.

The vessels are the cleanest DPSTs ever built, and feature twin WinGD X-DF engines, which have been modified to run on a natural gas-volatile organic compound (VOC) mix. The project included Wärtsilä, which supplied the VOC recovery plant, a liquefied VOC fuel tank, the fuel mixing unit, the LNG fuel tank and fuel supply system.

The two vessels will emit 40-48% less carbon than equivalent vessels built in 2008, meeting the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) target of reducing carbon (CO2) emissions by 40% against 2008 baselines by 2030, and halving CO2 emissions by 2050.

These LNG Dual-Fuel DPSTs also emit 85% less SOx, 98% less NOx, 98% less particulate matter and 93% less black carbon particulates than DPSTs burning conventional fuel.

By reusing VOCs, the system also offers reductions in fuel consumption. The use of LNG dual-fuel engines with the VOC Recovery Systems, along with more efficient dynamic positioning, means these vessels will save up to an estimated 3,000 tonnes fuel per year compared with conventional DPSTs of the same size.

Capt. Rajalingam Subramaniam, AET President & CEO and Chairman of AETSS said:

“These vessels are proof that environmental sustainability and commercial viability can coexist, and are also testament to the fact that operational performance does not have to be sacrificed in the pursuit of reducing emissions. The goal was always to leverage our combined experience of AET, ADS and SHI to develop vessels that really push the boundaries in what is possible in North Sea dynamic positioning operations, and to prove the value of LNG Dual-Fuel solutions in the energy shipping segment.”

The vessels will serve Norwegian energy company Equinor on long-term charter for operations both in oilfields on the Norwegian Continental Shelf of the North Sea, Norwegian Sea and the southern Barents Sea, as well as on the UK Continental Shelf.

The vessels have been constructed by Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), for AET Sea Shuttle AS (AETSS), a joint venture between Norwegian shipping company ADS Shipping and AET Tankers headquartered in Singapore, as the owner and commercial operator of the vessels.