Growth of LNG bunkering

The rapid adoption of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) as the ‘transitory’ marine bunker fuel of choice has prompted the recent emergence of LNG Bunker Vessels (LBV) to service this demand. As a new and complex ship type with specific and unique operational and design issues, there can obviously be difficulties in specifying and hence developing optimal and safe LBV designs.

In the April 2020 issue of The Naval Architect magazine, published by the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA), Safinah Group’s Keith Hutchinson and David Dobson discuss the growth of LNG bunkering and the critical organisational, operational and design issues that require definition and resolution in order to foster the production of robust LBV solutions. To read the full article download the PDF below.

By Keith W Hutchinson and David C Dobson.  Published in The Naval Architect, April 2020.

Growth of LNG bunkering – Hutchinson Dobson – The Naval Architect April 2020

This is the latest in a series of papers read at RINA and IMarEST international conferences and articles published in The Naval Architect, Offshore Marine Technology and other magazines on the production, shipping and utilisation of LNG over the past two decades, as detailed below.

List of historical papers
  • MACKIE, G.C., HUTCHINSON, K.W. and WANLESS, D. ‘Exploiting Stranded Gas Reserves: Options and Solution Development’, Deep and Ultra Deep Water Offshore Technology, International Conference, The Institute of Marine Engineers and the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in association with the Society for Underwater Technology, The University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, 25th and 26th March 1999, Pages 19 to 41. ISBN: 1-902536-12-6 (Transactions – Series C, Volume 111; 1. ISSN: 0950-5334)
  • MACKIE, G.C. and HUTCHINSON, K.W. ‘Exploitation of Offshore Stranded Gas Reserves using Floating Production Facilities’, Gas-To-Liquids News, Harts Publications, Potomac, United States of America, Volume III, Number 8, August 2000, Pages 6 and 7. ISSN: 1522-4155
  • MACKIE, G.C. and HUTCHINSON, K.W. ‘Maximising Energy Potential through the Exploitation of Offshore Stranded Gas’, Global Energy, Energy Industries Council, London, United Kingdom, February 2002, Pages 68 to 71.
  • HUTCHINSON, K.W. and DOBSON, D.C. ‘Floating LNG – Design Drivers and Technical Challenges’, International Conference on Design and Construction of LNG Ships, The Royal Institution of Naval Architects, London, United Kingdom, 26th and 27th October 2016. ISBN: 978-1-909024-57-1
  • HUTCHINSON, K.W. and FEATHERSTONE, R.A. ‘Small scale FSRUs – a flexible solution for the future’, Offshore Marine Technology, The Royal Institution of Naval Architects, London, United Kingdom, 2nd Quarter 2017, Pages 24 to 26. ISSN: 1757-7977
  • HUTCHINSON, K.W. ‘Offshore FLNG – now a reality in exploiting stranded gas reserves’, Offshore Marine Technology, The Royal Institution of Naval Architects, London, United Kingdom, 3rd Quarter 2017, Pages 23 to 26. ISSN: 1757-7977
  • HUTCHINSON, K.W. and DOBSON, D.C. ‘Small-scale Transhipment, Distribution and Utilisation of LNG’, International Conference on Design, Construction and Operation of LNG / LPG Vessels, The Royal Institution of Naval Architects, Alba House, Clydebank, Glasgow, United Kingdom, 29th and 30th November 2017. ISBN: 9978-1-909024-99-1
  • HUTCHINSON, K.W. and DOBSON, D.C. ‘Small scale maritime distribution and utilisation of LNG’, The Naval Architect, The Royal Institution of Naval Architects, London, United Kingdom, October 2018, Pages 42 to 45. ISSN: 0306-0209
  • HUTCHINSON, K.W. and DOBSON, D.C. ‘Near-shore floating liquefied gas storage and processing’, International Conference on LNG / LPG Ships 2018, The Royal Institution of Naval Architects in association with the Hellenic Institute of Marine Technology, The Eugenides Foundation, Athens, Greece, 5th December 2018, Pages 51 to 62. ISBN: 978-1-909024-86-1
  • HUTCHINSON, K.W. and DOBSON, D.C. ‘LNG Bunker Vessel Design and Operation’, International Conference on LNG / LPG and Alternative Fuel Ships, The Royal Institution of Naval Architects, London, United Kingdom, 29th and 30th January 2020. ISBN: 978-1-911649-02-1
  • HUTCHINSON, K.W. and DOBSON, D.C. ‘Growth of LNG bunkering and associated design and operational issues’, The Naval Architect, The Royal Institution of Naval Architects, London, United Kingdom, April 2020, Pages 28 to 30. ISSN: 0306-0209

Safinah Group’s in-house Chartered Engineers have extensive knowledge in the management and delivery of engineering services for complex vessels.  For more information on the range of services offered by our Professional Technical and Engineering Services (PTES) team contact us at technical@safinah-group.com