LNG BUNKER VESSEL DESIGN AND OPERATION

摘要

Previous papers by the authors to RINA International Conferences held in 2016 [1], 2017 [2] and 2018 [3], articles in RINA magazines [4 to 6], together with an earlier paper [7], have discussed both large deep-water offshore and small-scale near-shore floating Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) assets in conjunction with it transoceanic and coastal transhipment between production and reception hubs. This paper builds upon these by turning attention to the emerging LNG bunkering sector. For more than a century our world has revolved around fossil fuels, but the transformation from this via transitory fuels to zero carbon fuels is happening now and faster than anybody could have predicted a few years ago. LNG is arguably the transitory fuel of choice for both short-sea coastal and deep-sea ocean-going shipping. Hence, recent years has seen the introduction of a new class of ship namely the LNG Bunker Vessel (LNGBV or simplified to LBV) or sometimes termed a Gas Supply Vessel (GSV). Drawing on nearly two decades of experience in the design and evaluation of numerous new-build design, conversion and upgrades of offshore production and regassification assets together with a decade of experience in the design of conventional and highly novel and innovative LNG and other Gas Carriers, of all capacities and configurations, the authors consider the development and robust design of LBVs for deployment worldwide.