Sumitomo's LNG Tanker Gets Approval

Sumitomo Heavy Industries Marine & Engineering, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Japan’s Sumitomo Heavy Industries, was granted an approval in principle (AiP) last month from Lloyd’s Register for a medium-size tanker equipped with an LNG dual-fuel system, Sumitomo said on August 5.

This tanker is equipped with an LNG dual-fuel system and large-capacity LNG tank. According to the company, the vessel can “substantially reduce the amount of sulfur oxide (SOx), nitrogen oxide (NOx) and carbon dioxide (CO2) contained in the engine exhaust gas by using LNG as primary fuel”.

LNG fuelled engine present environmental challenges in that unburnt methane is emitted into the atmosphere from their exhaust gas. The ME-GI type main engine designed by MAN Energy & Solutions that will be installed on the vessel will substantially reduce those emissions and also improve fuel efficiency, Sumitomo said. High-pressure LNG that has been pressurised to approximately 300 bar will be supplied to this main engine through an LNG pump and vaporiser.

“We are committed to doing our part in realizing a sustainable shipping industry. Accordingly, we will continue meeting social demands by fully utilizing our technical and developmental capabilities. And we will remain focused on supplying our customers with environment-friendly ships with a greatly reduced environmental footprint in all areas, including greenhouse gases,” the company said.