man magazine
1/2015
Five decades of LNG
Commissioned in 1964, the LNG Tanker “Methane Princess” delivered the world’s first commercial liquefied natural gas to a British re-gasification terminal. Since then, the sector has assumed an important role in the global energy industry.
All time LNG trade totals 3,667 million metric tons of LNG (the equivalent of 4,978 bcm of gas).
424 LNG ships have been built and more are currently on the order books.
Japan: 1,707 South Korea: 464 Spain: 295 France: 268 Taiwan: 151 USA: 148 Others: 635
Indonesia: 721 Qatar: 566 Algeria: 525 Malaysia: 439 Australia: 268 Brunei: 238 Others: 911
South Korea: 329 Japan: 116 France: 38 China: 20 USA: 16 Others: 32
Scrapped: 31 Current Fleet: 393 Order book: 127
million tons
million tons
no. of ships
no. of ships
by importer
by exporter
LNG fleet by shipbuilding country
LNG fleet by current status
Source: Wood Mackenzie
MAN Diesel & Turbo engines will provide the power for this floating storage and re-gasification unit, anchored four kilometers offshore from Montevideo, Uruguay.
cubic meters
is the overall storage capacity of an FSRU unit currently under construction in South Korea, so far the largest worldwide.
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where the vessels are actually built. “Last, but
rendering it the largest worldwide. Construc-
not least,” adds Bale, “the fact that the engines
tion will be completed by September 2016, and
were ‘Made in Germany’ was a factor in the
the unit will enter service in November 2016,
selection process, as this assured us that pro-
following delivery and commissioning at the
duction and testing were of the highest qual-
port of Montevideo.
ity as far as engine design is concerned.”
“The business success of FSRU technology is rooted in cooperation and trusting rela-
“Due to their cutting-edge technology,
tionships among national governments, fi-
these engines are highly efficient and there-
chamber and ignited via a small quantity of
destination port, the liquid gas is unloaded
nancial investors and gas industry operators,”
fore attractive to buyers. In gas mode, the en-
injected MDO/MGO pilot fuel. The combus-
before warming up and decompression for fu-
says Christian Bale, Head of LNG Offshore at
gine operates according to the lean-burn
tion process according to the Otto-cycle en-
ture use. While this had traditionally been ac-
MOL. “The recent contract with Uruguay re-
four-stroke Otto combustion process,” says
sures the lowest nitrous oxide (NOx) emis-
complished in on-shore facilities, another so-
sults in the FSRU being moored only five kilo-
Zutt. “The premixed lean gas/air mixture is
sions when operating in gas mode, which are
lution has been available since 2005, namely
meters off the coast of Montevideo, thus aptly
ignited by the compression ignition of a small
lower than projected future emission limits.
a floating storage re-gasification unit (FSRU).
illustrating the necessary cooperation with
quantity of injected MDO-pilot fuel into the
For the sake of fuel flexibility, the engine can
This unit sits a few miles offshore, allowing
well-known and established partners.”
main combustion chamber. The amount of
operate alternatively in liquid mode, where
LNGCs to dock and unload their cargo of LNG.
Power on the FSRU will be generated by
this injected pilot fuel is less than 1% of the
fuel oil is injected via conventional main
This gas can then be stored directly at the
MAN dual-fuel engines with the flexibility to
full-load liquid fuel quantity. This ensures the
pumps as in the 48/60B HFO engine,” ex-
facility before being pumped ashore through
run on diesel or excess LNG, as required. “We
lowest NOx emissions in gas mode, which are
plains Dietmar Zutt, Head of Sales Merchant
a subsea pipeline. Compared with an onshore
chose MAN engines for a number of reasons,”
even lower than projected future emission
Marine at MAN Diesel & Turbo.
facility, an FSRU can be set up with minimal
says Bale. “MAN is a credible manufacturer
limits. In the liquid fuel mode, the fuel oil is
impact while its mobility allows for reloca-
with a good reputation and offers suitable
injected via the conventional main pumps as
tion if market demands change.
dual-fuel engines that meet our objectives of
in the 48/60B–HFO engine.”
The booming LNG market is driving more than ship production, however. There is significant growth and investment at every
low liquid and gas consumption, low emis-
As part of Uruguay’s energy policy plan
stage of the process chain, ranging from new
In October of 2013, the Japanese shipping
sions, local support in Korea for the Daewoo
2005-2030, the LNG import terminal project is
production facilities and pipelines to new gas-
company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) signed a
Shipyard and also where the vessel operates.
a cornerstone for energy development in this
burning power plants to utilize the abun-
so-called BOOT (build, own, operate and trans-
As the installation won’t move from its off-
country and considered a top priority by the
dance of gas. One important link in this chain
fer) contract for the duration of 20 years with
shore position for 20 years, it is essential to
government. It is projected that it will signifi-
is present at the beginning and end of every
the Montevideo-based joint venture Gas Say-
receive MAN’s support to ensure uninterrupt-
cantly change the national energy market by
LNGC journey, specifically in the ports where
ago for LNG storage and re-gasification servic-
ed operations.” Bale also emphasizes that the
providing an additional clean fuel source and
the vessels are loaded and unloaded. A lique-
es in Uruguay. Currently under construction
available training courses on the dual-fuel en-
reducing the share of imported oil in the en-
faction facility is required to cool and com-
at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineer-
gines are absolutely essential for MOL em-
ergy mix. This strategy is not only good for
press the gas before taking it on board. At the
ing in South Korea, this FSRU will have a stor-
ployees – and not just in Germany, but also
business, but also good for the planet.
Photos: GDF Suez S.A.
263,000
age capacity of 263,000 cubic meters of LNG,
“Working with well-known and established partners is essential in the LNG business.” Christian Bale, Head of LNG Offshore at MOL
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