DNV GL new rules for LPG-fuelled ships
The new rules were presented at last week’s Marintec in Shanghai, pictured is Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen (Source: DNV GL)
New class rules and a class notation for ships using LPG as fuel have been introduced by DNV GL. The ‘Gas fuelled LPG’ notation covers internal combustion engines, boilers and gas turbines for both gas-only and dual-fuel installations and a ship’s entire fuel supply system from the bunkering connection to the consumer on board.
With the exception of LNG, all gas and low-flashpoint fuels must be shown to have systems equivalent in safety, reliability and dependability to those achieved by new and comparable conventionally fuelled main and auxiliary machinery. This process can be time-consuming and expensive and, some believe, may inhibit their uptake.
Geir Dugstad, director of Ship Classification & Technical Director at DNV GL Maritime, said: “As the fuel environment within the maritime industry becomes more diverse, it is essential that we continue to broaden the enabling rules and regulation to support these new choices. With the new rules and class notation, we want to offer owners interested in LPG a straightforward path towards compliance with the alternative design approach mandated by the IGF Code.”
“Gas as fuel is the best choice for the next decades, because it can be adapted to future carbon neutral fuels. For example, LPG and LNG infrastructure could be used for zero carbon fuels like ammonia, biogas and synthetic methane, depending on the materials used," Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO DNV GL – Maritime added.
