DSME and KR complete world’s first ship-to-ship LNG bunkering trial
The STS bunkering at DSME (Source: Korean Register)
Korean Register (KR) and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) have completed what is claimed to be the world’s first ship-to-ship (STS) bunkering for gas trial. LNG was successfully supplied from the gas bunkering vessel, SM Jeju LNG2, to a 173,400m3 LNG carrier at DSME’x Okpo Shipyard.
The classification society and shipbuilder have been collaborating on joint research into LNG bunkering since the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding last August. The cooperation is part of an agreement with the country’s shipyards to develop standards for LNG bunkering, to evaluate the associated risks, and to develop LNG bunkering to support technology based on standards and guidelines jointly developed by DSME and KR.
Through a series of risk assessments, KR has identified a diverse range of potential hazards in ship-to-ship loading of LNG and has suggested effective ways to reduce those risks to DSME. A safe environment and working procedures have also been developed as a result of a study to assess control zones around ship-to-ship transfers.
Meanwhile, DSME has developed its own technology to prevent vapour return to the bunkering vessel or venting to the atmosphere during LNG bunkering operations. The shipbuilder has extensive experience in LNG offshore operations and boil-off gas control and has now undertaken eight gas trials without venting to atmospheric areas.
