View non-flash version
Environmental Focus Statoil Ships Run on Gas... Liquefied Natural Gas That Is Norway's Statoil has called upon ship- builder Kleven Verft to construct a pair of309-ft. (94.3-m) supply ships that will run on LNG. The vessels, which are scheduled for completion during 2003, and operated by Statoil, will be con- tracted from Eidesvik and Mokster Ship- ping. According to Knut Borland, Sta- toil's vice president for Environment, the LNG power concept is expected to cut the vessels' nitrogen oxide (NOx) emis- sions by 85 percent; annual emissions are expected to be lowered by 420 tons. By Regina P. Ciardiello, senior editor Why would a company knowingly add $6 million to the construction price of a new vessel, and more than $1 million per year in operating costs? The answer is a multi-faceted one, but basically it comes down to environmental responsi- bility. Known as the first operator on the Norwegian continental shelf to feature LNG powered propulsion on its vessels, Statoil said that a driving force behind its decision to go with LNG power was two-fold — the company wanted to employ a pair of vessels that would be environmentally sensitive — while building upon new technology. While the vessels are more expensive to build and operate, they also tremendously reduce emissions, a savings that can be distributed into the company's overall operations. According to Barland, the Norwegian government has allowed Sta- toil to credit the NOx reduction against land-based entities. "Reductions achieved in one place, can be used in other places," Barland said. He's refer- ring to myriad of projects that Statoil is currently involved in, which includes two 400 MW gas-fired stations located in Kaarstoe and Kollsnes. The plants, which are part of a deal that involves Statoil, Norsk Hydro and Statkraft, are an issue with the Norwegian Govern- ment, according to Barland, because of their carbon dioxide C02 emissions. Per the government, refineries must hold NOx emissions down to five parts per million (ppm), which according to Bar- land, is an expensive task. The reasoning behind this, he adds, is to curb the acid rain problem that is prevalent on the Norwegian continental shelf. So instead of taking the conventional route, Statoil approached the Norwegian Government with its idea for the LNG- powered vessels, and upon its approval, the innovation/creative process was begun. The task of bringing the innova- tive vessels to fruition has involved not only Statoil, but Eidesvik, who is char- tering the vessels, as well as Kleven Verft, the Norwegian shipyard that has been designated as the builder. So far, according to Eidesvik's admin- istration director, Nils Himle, the pro- duction process is one of trial and error. "One of the challenges of this project is making the rules as you go along," Himle said. "Since this (the construction of LNG-powered ships) has never been done before, there are no guidelines that have already been established." Himle added that the company, along with both the Norwegian Government and Det Norske Veritas, is working to formulate a set of guidelines in hopes that this pro- ject is a blueprint for future LNG-pow- ered vessel projects. The 4,400-gt vessels will have an overall length of 311 ft. (94.9 m), a breadth of 67 ft. (20.4 m) and design draft of 25 ft. (7.5 m), and will operate at a service speed of 16 knots. According to Himle, they will be larger than most supply vessels as more capacity than usual will be taken up by the LNG tanks, which when backed up by diesel fuel, will hold 1,000 cu. m. Water ballast capacity is 2,000 cu. m. and deck cargo capacity checks in at 2,500 tons. Upon their scheduled 2003 comple- tion, the vessels, which will operate from the Coast Center Base near Bergen, will supply oil and gas installa- tions in the Tampen area of the North Sea. Main Particulars Flag Norway Class DNV Vessel Name (s) Yard No. 301 and 303 Owner/operator Eidesvik Contract date June 2001 Length, (o.a.) 311 ft. (94.9 m) Length, (b.p.) 268 ft. (81.6 m) Breadth, (molded) ... 67 ft. (20.4 m) GT Approximately 4,400 DWT Approximately 6,300 Draft, (design) 25 ft. (7.5 m) Draft, (scantling) ... 26 ft. (8 m) Speed, service 16 knots Complement 20 Deck cargo capacity . .. .Approximately 2,300 tons Bunker 1,000 cu.m. Water ballast 2,000 cu m. CCTV improves safety and efficiency Scan Systems AS Hernis Scan Systems A/S Box 74 • NO-4817 HIS • Norway Tel: +47-370-11210 • Fax:+47-370-10228 Circle 262 on Reader Service Card or visit www.maritimereporterinfo.com 107,000 marine professionals each month ONLINE The ideal venue for you to advertise available positions at your company. Contact to learn more. Phone: 561-732-4368 E-mail: @marinelink.com Total Marine Solutions Offering the Right Solutions and Quality Customer Service to ship Owners & Operators Proudly Representing: Marinfloc AB Biotrace United Ship Service Bio-Matrix Rivertrace Engineering Citro Bio Tramp Oil 8i Marine Ltd Masto 4350 Oakes Road, Ste 501 Ft Laud, Fl 33314 Ph: 954-327-2032 Fx: 954-327-2530 totalmarinesolutions@msn.com Circle 327 on Reader Service Card or visit www.maritimereporterinfo.com SUNDIAL MARINE CONSTRUCTION & REPAIR A Full Service Shipyard on the Columbia River NEW CONSTRUCTION REPAIRS AND CONVERSIONS PAINTING AND BLASTING 2000 TON DRY DOCK BUILDING & LAUNCH WAYS 5605 NE Sundial Road Troutdale, Oregon 97060 Ph: 503-667-1974 Fax:503-666-7872 Emai 1: sundial@sundial-marine.com Circle 320 on Reader Service Card or visit www.maritimereporterinfo.com TRACTOR PINS FOR TODAY'S TUGS HYDRAULIC TOW PIN UNITS with HOLD-DOWN HOOK WESTERN MACHINE WORKS 1870 Harbour Road - North Vancouver, B. C. - Canada - V7H 1A1 Phone: (604) 929 -7901 Fax: (604) 929-7951 or (604) 929-5329 KORT NOZZLES IN STANDARD AND CUSTOM CONFIGURATIONS HARRINGTON MARINE 6720 124TH AVE., FENNVILLE Ml 49408 PHONE 800-962-5000 FAX 616-543-4637 VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT http://www.harringtonmarine.com Circle 340 on Reader Service Card or visit www.maritimereporterinfo.com Circle 260 on Reader Service Card or visit www.maritimereporterinfo.com
