Page Standard #618827

Originally due for completion last spring, the 83m newbuilding has been at builders Fassmer Werft since July when its maiden voyage was cancelled at the last minute.

Fassmer and operators Cassen Eils said at the time this was because of commissioning problems connected with the ship’s innovative LNG systems. As reported, delays are unrelated to the delivery of the ship’s two nine-cylinder Wärtsilä 20DF medium-speed engines, gas storage and supply tanks .

A new statement from Fassmer and Cassen Eils notes the absence of industry standards for LNG technology, saying that technical questions had repeatedly cropped up at all stages of planning, building and start-up, which had to be clarified with specialists and class.

Cassen Eils managing director Bernhard Brons noted that the ship’s LNG-driven generators were prototypes which were being used on board ship for the first time and required time-consuming approval. “We are all very aware that we are dealing here with a pilot project,” he said.

The statement also said that automatic safety systems had been built into the ship to meet every conceivable eventuality linked to the new LNG technology. The ship-specific sensor and control technology for these safety systems could only be completed during operational programming, leading to delays which could not have been predicted, said Fassmer mangaing director Harald Fassmer.

Fassmer and Cassen Eils added that they were confident of solving the “wide-ranging challenges” posed by the

Helgoland

project.