A BW LPG vessel is preparing for the first voyage of a VLGC powered by gas.
The retrofitted 84,195-cbm BW Gemini (built 2015) has come through seven days of sea trials off Hong Kong, where the LPG propulsion technology was tested to its safe limits.
An expert team from engine manufacturer MAN ES, BW LPG’s newbuilding and projects and technical departments, and classification society DNV GL experienced intermitment delays from bad weather.
But the main engine ran on LPG and switched to traditional fuel seamlessly.
A class certificate has now been awarded and the ship will sail on full LPG propulsion across the Pacific.
The vessel is heading to Enterprise Port in Houston, Texas, for loading.
The voyage is expected to produce 20% less greenhouse gas emissions compared to compliant fuels, and use 10% less fuel, demonstrating the benefits of LPG propulsion to the industry, BW LPG said.
Pontus Berg, BW LPG executive vice president of technical and operations, thanked the company's partners.
The importance of working together
He added: "BW Gemini is a testament to what industry collaboration can achieve – together, we can pioneer the technology needed to decarbonise shipping and realise a zero-carbon future."
Cristina Saenz de Santa Maria, regional manager for South East Asia, Pacific & India at DNV GL Maritime, added: "We are very pleased to have worked with BW LPG to realise this ground-breaking retrofit project.
"With the pioneering conversion to LPG, BW LPG is demonstrating that not only can shipowners step up to cut their emissions in operation, but that the conversion itself can play a role in reducing the industry’s overall environmental impact."
More LPG-fuelled ships coming
Retrofitting work at Yiu Lian Dockyard in Shenzhen, China, took 60 days and is estimated to have emitted 2,060 tonnes of CO2.
BW LPG had originally planned to complete the work on an initial four vessels in the first quarter, but the Covid-19 lockdowns to the yard temporarily stalled plans.
The company said it was a combination of this and the company’s decision to continue trading the ships in a strong market that slowed the jobs.
BW LPG remains fully committed to its LPG engine retrofits on 12 VLGCs.
Work on all of the ships is scheduled to be completed by the end of next year.
The cost of each retrofit is between $9m and $10m. Payback on the extra investment is a little less than six years.
