For the first time, US flagged offshore platform supply vessels will run on LNG, which offers operational savings and environmental benefits. The vessels will operate in the Gulf of Mexico. Wärtsilä will deliver an integrated LNG propulsion system.
www.wartsila.com/en/Home[Wärtsilä] was awarded the contract in October 2011. The vessels are owned by https://www.harveygulf.com[Harvey Gulf International Marine]. The contract includes options for supplying propulsion equipment for additional follow-on vessels.
290 m3 LNG Storage Capacity
The contract includes dual-fuel machinery, an electrical and automation package, complete propulsion, and the LNG fuel storage and handling components. The https://www.stxmarine.com[STX Marine Inc] SV310DF Offshore Support Vessels will be powered by Wärtsilä 6-cylinder 34DF dual-fuel engines. The LNG storage capacity of 290 m3, enables more than a week of vessel operational time. In addition, the vessels will carry 5520 tons of deadweight at load line and have a transit speed of 13 knots. The vessels are scheduled for delivery in two years.
Dual-Fuel Technology
Wärtsilä’s 34DF dual-fuel engine can be operated on either gas or diesel fuel with full EPA emissions Tier 2 compliance. This dual-fuel capability means that when running in gas mode, the environmental impact is minimized since nitrogen oxides (NOx) are reduced by some 85 per cent compared to diesel operation. Sulphur oxide (SOx) emissions are completely eliminated as gas contains no sulphur, and emissions of CO2 are lowered as well. Natural gas has no residuals, and thus the production of particulates is practically non-existent.
LNG Is an Economically Interesting Alternative
The shipping industry finds the operational savings that gas offers to be very compelling. Similarly, the significant environmental benefits that LNG fuel provides are of increasing importance. With fossil fuel prices, and especially the cost of low sulphur marine fuel, likely to continue to escalate, gas is an obvious economic alternative.
