Design, Construction and Operation of LNG Carriers & Floating Systems

Overview

The marine LNG industry now has over five decades of experience. LNG accounts for a significant part of the growth in the global energy supply and despite the recent economic situation the future demand for LNG carriers, floating storage and processing systems is expected to increase. While almost a third of the world's LNG carriers were laid up in the summer of 2010 nearly all are now back in service. Some estimate that there is a need for 60-70 new LNG carriers to satisfly the rising demand up until 2014.

Over 80% of the LNG carrier fleet are between 120,000 - 149,999 cubic metres capacity. However in recent years there was been a dramatic increase in the size of the largest vessels ( 266,000 cu.m Q-Max vessels) with some companies building to try and take advantage of economies of scale. However, others are looking at developing small vessels for shortsea and coastal trades to help create LNG distribution networks.

New alternatives to LNG including compressed/pressurised natural gas (CNG/PNG), where the gas is stored under pressure at ambient or semi-refrigeration temperatures, are also being developed. There is also a growing interest in floating production, storage and offloading systems for offshore field development and re-gasification systems and plants designed to avoid the need to construct land based processing and distribution centres.

Contents

RINA invites papers from naval architects, builders, class societies, operators and researchers on all related topics, including:

• Design of larger capacity LNG carriers,
• Design of shortsea and coastal LNG carriers,
• Design for greater flexibility to cater for spot market trading,
• Floating storage, re-gasification and processing,
• Alternatives to LNG - CNG, PNG, etc.,
• Optimisation of power plants
• Issues associated with partial filled LNG tanks
• LNG ship to ship transfer system