SCHN prepares for LNG-techniques

Shipyard Constructions Hoogezand Nieuwbouw (SCHN) in Foxhol, the Netherlands, is a relatively young company started by two people with many years of experience in the industry: Bouko Meijer and Roelof Kregel. Just two years ago they founded their shipyard for new builds, maintenance and repairs, and on 7 November 2013 yard number eleven slid down the cross slope into the Winschoterdiep. After she is delivered she will be named Brisote.

With a big splash the Brisote landed into the narrow channel where she will stay until her delivery in February 2014. The 87.18 metre long and 14.8 metre wide vessel is built for Dutch ship owner Chemgas Shipping, part of the German Jaegers Shipping Group. Chemgas awarded SCHN with a large order for multiple tankers, providing the young company with enough work for the coming years. The first of the series was Bayamo that was delivered in June this year. The sister ships have a deadweight of 3,150 tons, a gross tonnage of 2,950 and a maximum draught of 4.35 metre. The Mitsubishi main engines give the LPG-tanker a maximum speed of 12.3 miles per hour.

General manager Roelof Kregel of SCHN about their cooperation with Chemgas: ”This successful cooperation is based on a number of set values that are respected by both parties. The client can make adjustments in the process anytime they wish. A striking feature of quality during the construction of both the Bayamo and the Brisote was the accuracy in engineering, measurements and the reprocessing of components. This, together with the craftsmanship of our employees and the cooperation with specialised subcontractors made the project a success.”

Propelled by LNG

The Brisote and her sister ship Bayamo are LPGtankers, which stands for Liquified Petroleum Gas, and have a tank capacity of 2,700 cubic metres. The vessels are especially designed and built for the transportation of gases, mainly LNG, and meet the latest and highest European safety regulations. At the moment both newly built tankers are propelled by diesel engines. Chemgas, however, has set a goal to add LNG-propelled vessels to her fleet in the near future. In the meantime the project team of Chemgas is working on the next projects for the shipyard, which will include inland tankers and coasters. Yard number twelve, inland tanker Sirocco and two coasters are currently under construction for Chemgas and will be propelled by LNG. Kregel: ”SCHN is developing in the direction of ‘transition LNG’, as we see that LNG is the future in the shipbuilding industry. In the preliminary discussions about future vessels we have with Chemgas the developments in LNG are taken into consideration in the construction plans, so a proper construction of knowledge and experience are again a guarantee to be able to provide the best quality.”

Anne Kregting