Gas support tugs aim to stay out longer

摘要

Australian waters are to play host to several planned floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) terminal start-up projects, spurring local vessel designers to draw up new concepts to best serve these offshore energy hubs. Inevitably, such service necessitates an ability to operate independently from shore for longer periods than usual, to reduce fuel costs and to make the most efficient use of the operator's time. One such designer, Lightning Naval Architecture (LNA), has subsequently put together a plan for a new type of infield support vessel, capable of operating away from shore for weeks at a time, and of offering superior stability to the majority of conventional tugs, many of which have been designed to spend just a few hours away from shore.