LNG fuel tanks have been installed on a next-generation car carrier

Construction of next-generation environmental-friendly car carrier fueled by LNG

LNG fuel tanks have been installed on a next-generation car carrier
Photo: K Line

In December 2018, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” Line) placed an order for a car carrier vessel fueled by LNG (liquefied natural gas) with Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. as a next-generation car carrier vessel with reduced environmental load. The construction is currently on going with estimated delivery within 2020 fiscal year.

LNG fuel tanks have been installed on a car carrier which is under construction at Tadotsu Shipyard Co.,Ltd. (Imabari Shipbuilding Group).

The vessel is equipped with a Dual-Fuel Diesel Engine (Mitsui MAN B&W ME-GI), and the Fuel Gas Supply System (FGSS) engineered by TGE Marine Gas Engineering GmbH of Mitsui E&S Group. The FGSS is composed of LNG fuel tank and high-pressure pump.

The LNG fuel tank on the vessel is an independent tank of type C, which allows the design pressure to be set higher than other types of LNG fuel tanks. Because the boiling point of methane which is the main component of LNG is -161.5℃, LNG is constantly vaporized due to heat input from outside of the tank. Therefore the tank pressure is increased by the vaporized gas inside of the tank. The type C independent tank allows vaporized gas to be kept in the tank for a relatively longer period of time.

LNG-fueled ship will be a next-generation environmental-friendly car carrier vessel for achieving these goals.