Leading international classification society Bureau Veritas is to class the first containership LNG–fuel conversion. Haren/Ems-based Wessels Reederei is to convert one of its fleet of 1,036 teu container vessels to LNG as fuel. Bureau Veritas will class the conversion, the first of a container vessel to LNG as fuel world-wide, the society said in a press release.
The project is sponsored by the German Ministry of Transport and partners are Wessels Reederei, MAN Diesel & Turbo, TGE Marine Gas Engineering, SMB Naval Architects & Consultants and Bureau Veritas.
Philippe Donche-Gay, President of Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore Division says, "Our experience with this kind of conversion on small scale LNG vessels helps the owners and other partners to move confidently to this new and cleaner fuel."
Shipowner Gerd Wessels says, "With the conversion to LNG we and our partners showcase our technical expertise and demonstrate practical environmental solutions for the merchant marine industry."
The vessel, MV WES AMELIE, has a MAN 8 L 48/60B engine driving a controlled pitch propeller via gearing. MAN will convert the existing engine to a 51/60 DF dual-fuel engine. The LNG tank of abt. 500 cu m will be located in the fore part of the vessel to limit the loss of cargo capacity.
Tecnitas, the consulting arm of Bureau Veritas, is carrying out risk analyses for the new LNG as fuel system and operations like LNG bunkering. Following the conversion MV WES AMELIE will meet Tier III of Marpol Annex 6 regulation. The conversion will take place in 2017.
Bureau Veritas is a world leader in laboratory testing, inspection and certification services. Created in 1828, the Group has more than 66,000 employees in around 1,400 offices and laboratories located all across the globe. Bureau Veritas helps its clients to improve their performance by offering services and innovative solutions in order to ensure that their assets, products, infrastructure and processes meet standards and regulations in terms of quality, health and safety, environmental protection and social responsibility.