Wärtsilä Gas Cargo Handling Systems specified for 11 new gas carriers
Complete Wärtsilä Gas Cargo Handling Systems have been specified for a series of six new type Very Large Gas Carriers (VLGCs), as well as for two conventional VLGCs, and for three Medium Gas Carriers (MGCs), the company said in its press release. The ships are all being built in South Korea at the Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and Hyundai Mipo Dockyards (HMD) facilities. The total of 11 systems represents one of the largest single deals for gas cargo handling solutions ever received by the company. The contracts with Wärtsilä were signed in November and the deliveries are scheduled for the period between late 2016 and early 2018.
The type of Wärtsilä Gas Reliquefaction Plants to be delivered represents the company’s latest development in this field, and three identical units will be installed in each vessel. The plants have a higher refrigeration capacity and better efficiency than earlier versions delivered to VLGC`s, and will be capable of handling propane with a high ethane content, i.e. 8,5% mol.
In addition, a Wärtsilä Purge Gas Recovery Unit will be included in the complete system. These will collect the hydrocarbons in the purge gas during the gassing up of the cargo tanks, resulting in a significant reduction in the amount of hydrocarbon emissions, thereby enhancing the environmental sustainability of the ships’ operations.
The efficient loading and unloading of cargo made possible by the Wärtsilä systems minimise the time the carriers need to be docked at the gas terminals, thereby reducing the operational costs.
The new type VLGCs have a cargo capacity of 78,700 m3 and have been designed to meet the size requirements for the current Panama Canal. The ships are being built for Greek, Korean, Norwegian and Singaporean owners. The vessels are scheduled for delivery to the owners during 2017 and 2018.
The complete scope of the Wärtsilä cargo handling systems includes the cargo pumps, inert gas plants, and an equipment package comprising compressors, heat exchangers and control systems. Wärtsilä will also provide the necessary engineering, arrangement drawings, site commissioning at the yards, and crew training.
