Kunlun: Successful Trial Voyage of LNG Powered Vessel (China)

On 28 July, Haichuan 3, the first Chinese dual fuel vessel with hybrid power of diesel and LNG proofed by ship classification certification, unveiled its trial voyage at the Ezhou Guangda Shipping Company in Hubei Province.

Around 11 AM in the morning, “Haichuan 3” was sailing slowly out of the dock of Guangda shipyard. As soon as the vessel sailed off the shore and its engine’s spinning speed reached its critical point, the vessel successfully shifted to the hybrid power of diesel and LNG. It steadily sailed onto the Yangtze River, symbolizing the successful completion of this trial voyage.

Mr. Li Hualin, Vice President of PetroChina Company Limited and Chairman of Kunlun Energy Company Limited, Mr. Wen Jiang, Vice President of Kunlun Energy, Mr. Wang Zhigang, General Manager of China Classification Society, Wuhan Branch, and principals from Hubei Xinjie Natural Gas Company Limited, SINOTRANS&CSC Holdings Co., Ltd., Wuhan Transportation Development Group Limited, and CNPC Jinan Diesel Engine Company Limited, Wuhan Branch attended this ceremony.

“Haichuan 3” is a 3100 tonnes bulk carrier with the hybrid power of diesel and LNG, a product developed by the joint efforts of the following companies, namely, Hubei Xinjie, a subsidiary of Xinjiang Xinjie Co., Ltd whose controlling company is Kunlun Energy, Wuhan Transportation Development Group Limited, and CNPC Jinan Diesel Engine Company Limited, Wuhan Branch. This vessel with its length of 79.60 meters and width of 13.60 meters boasts an effective volume of 15 cubic meters in its LNG storage tank. Driven by an engine with hybrid power of 400 kilowatts as well as installed with systems of power control and LNG gasification, the vessel can reach a sailing speed of 18.7 kilometers with its full rated power, thus achieving its continuous sailing capacity above 3,000 kilometers at full speed.

In 2011, Hubei Xinjie maximized the geographic advantages to research the demonstration and application of vessels with hybrid power of diesel and LNG by collaborating with many enterprises, including engine shipyards, shipping designers, ship manufacturers, and providers of LNG equipment for vessels. Garnering extensive support from China Classification Society, Wuhan Branch, Hubei Xinjie facilitated the implementation of the relevant standardization of guides on vessels powered by gaseous fuels. The entire development process of “Haichuan 3”, ranging from its design, inspection, and construction, is under the stringent supervision of China Classification Society, Wuhan Branch. Upon completion of the vessel in April 2012, the vessel passed a strict 3-month test of technical indicators conducted by China Classification Society.

Hubei Province is located at the midstream of the golden watercourse on Yangtze River, which is a critically important location for waterway transportation. Currently, the majority of inland river vessels on the Yangtze River are carriers ranging from 3,000 tonnes to 5,000 tonnes in capacity, mostly powered by heavy oil and diesel. The average replacement rate of diesel for vessels with hybrid power of diesel and LNG can reach 60% to 70%, lowering the transportation costs. In addition, if the utilization rate of vessels with hybrid power of diesel and LNG on the route of the Yangtze River reaches 10%, carbon dioxide emission could be reduced by 44 thousands tonnes. The successful voyage of “Haichuan 3” definitely ensures the vigorous application and promotion of vessels with hybrid power of diesel and LNG on the inland river transportation, and effectively reduces the pollution rife in the Yangtze River region, thus making positive contribution to the eco-friendly development of the inland river transportation.

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LNG World News Staff, July 31, 2012; Image: Kunlun