Wärtsilä and Tarbit Shipping of Sweden have signed a turnkey contract to convert a product tanker to LNG propulsion, and to supply the ship with a Wärtsilä LNGPac system for the safe and convenient storage of LNG onboard. This is the first order for the LNGPac system.
The 25,000 dwt product tanker ‘Bit Viking’ is operated by Statoil along the Norwegian coastline, and the conversion will enable the vessel to qualify for lower NOX emission taxes under the Norwegian government’s NOX fund scheme.
Conversion of Main Engines
The contract covers the conversion of the ship’s two main engines to gas-fuelled propulsion, all adjustments to the ship’s systems necessitated by the conversion, the updating of the vessel’s classification certificate, and the supply and installation of the LNGPac system, including two 500m3 LNG storage tanks. The project should be completed by June 2011.
Bit Viking
The ‘Bit Viking’ has twin screw propulsion, with each screw currently powered by a 6-cylinder in-line Wärtsilä 46 engine running on heavy fuel oil (HFO). The conversion involves changing these to 6-cylinder in-line Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel engines that will operate on LNG. The LNGPac is developed to enable the safe and convenient storage of the gas fuel onboard ship, and to facilitate bunkering operations.
The ‘Bit Viking’ is built with double engine rooms, propellers, steering gears, rudders and control systems. After conversion, the ‘Bit Viking’ will be one of the safest and most environmental friendly 25,000 ton product tankers in the world.
Picture: The 25,000 dwt product tanker ‘Bit Viking’ will be converted to run on gas.
