Reduced CO2 Emissions. Also inside: Lay up, Port State Control Tool Kit, Ice Load Monitoring
Text and photos: Magne A. Røe, except where otherwise stated.Date: 25 May 2009
Challenges and opportunities…
Overall, the tanker segment has until recently been less severely hit than the bulk carrier and container ship segments, even though, according to the International Energy Agency, the world oil demand growth has slumped into negative territory for the first time since 1983.
CO2 reduction challenges facing Tanker Owners
OCIMF is now expanding the TMSA scheme. Energy Efficiency and Fuel Management guidelines have been developed to expand upon the TMSA’s Environmental Element (Element 10 A + 10 B), specifically with a view to reducing CO2 emissions from ships. These guidelines were published in late 2008.
Preserving the assets for shorter or longer periods
During the major lay-ups in the shipping industry in the 1970s and 1980s, when the tanker market was particularly affected, DNV was instrumental in setting the standards for safe and cost-optimal lay-up and preservation. Unfortunately, the experience and competence developed at that time are once again in demand.
Valuable experience feedback
Since 2005, DNV has recorded all the findings of surveys on board ships worldwide in a structured database that allows for detailed analysis of trends and frequencies across the more than 5,000 vessels classed by DNV. More than 50,000 findings are continuously fed into the database each year. This can serve as unique feedback to approval engineers, surveyors, rule developers and clients.
Port State Control Tool Kit
Performance in Port State Control continues to offer a benchmark regarding the quality of both a vessel and its owner, both of which have the charterers’ attention in connection with the vetting of tankers. With an oversupply of tonnage in the market, this becomes even more important for tanker owners.
The ultimate tool to avoid hull damage in ice?
How do people on the bridge know that they are operating within the design limits of the hull?
Emergency propulsion – “take me home”
On the short list for the Seatrade Awards 2009, in the Safety at Sea category, is a new “take me home” or Power Take-In (PTI) system for slow-speed diesel engines. This is an emergency system developed by Swedish shipowner Marinvest AB in Gothenburg and fitted on board four of its DNV ice class 74,999-tonne product tankers recently delivered from the Brodosplit Shipyard in Croatia. The system was primarily developed to enhance the safety of single screwed and slow-speed engine vessels in the case of engine failure.
FSRU GOLAR SPIRIT - the world’s first conversion of LNG/C to re-gasification unit
After about eight months at Keppel Shipyard in Singapore, the 1981-built LNG/C Golar Spirit was delivered as a re-gasification unit. This is the world’s first such conversion from an ordinary LNG carrier.