(Alameda, CA) HEC has carried out innovative work across the broad range of issues involved with adopting the use of LNG fuel in ships. Concept and bidding designs with specifications have been prepared for several LNG fueled vessel designs. We assisted ABS with the preparation of their Technical Advisory on LNG Bunkering. HEC has provide plan approval and technical assistance to owners building LNG ready vessels. HEC has analyzed the design and cost issues related to fuel selection in the new ECA era including fuel choices MGO, HFO with scrubbers and LNG fuel. Our white paper presenting the results of this analysis is available here. As the cost of fuel has been changing the lowest cost fuel choice has been changing, pointing to the fact that careful engineering and cost analysis should be carried out before any owner makes a fuel choice commitment as the cost differences can be significant and vary by vessel type and service. HEC has made several presentations to technical and shipping conferences on the impacts of LNG fuel on ship design. The impacts may be more than some owners expect.
NSMV CONCEPT DESIGN PRESENTED TO MARAD
(Annapolis, MD) HEC has completed the concept design of the new National Security Multi-mission Vessel (NSMV) for the U.S. Maritime Administration. The vessel is intended to be the common design for the new training ships for the five state maritime academies in the US to replace the existing older vessels. It will have state of the art diesel electric propulsion, twin engine rooms for safety and for teaching purposes (one engine room running and the other for teaching), accommodations for up to 600 cadets and 100 operating crew, faculty and support staff. Extensive classrooms, training workshops and lab space is provided to give cadets the latest in teaching tools and technology.
The vessels are also outfitted to act as command and support vessels for emergency response and humanitarian assistance, like what was done by the existing training vessels for hurricanes Katrina and Sandy and for the Haiti earthquake. For this purpose the vessels can expand the number of persons accommodated onboard and is provided with RoRo cargo space, cargo crane and deck space for containers and special modules.
HEC OPENS INSPECTION OFFICE AT PHILLY SHIPYARD (APSI)
(Philadelphia, PA) HEC has opened an office at Philly Shipyard (formerly APSI) to provide the owner’s supervision staff for the (4) tankers under construction for the Kinder Morgan subsidiary American Petroleum Tankers (APT-KM). The HEC office will provide all the inspectors including steel, coating and machinery for the project, which will last until the end of 2017.
HEC will also be providing technical support to APT-KM throughout the duration of the project for design and construction issues that arise. This work follows on HEC’s previous site office at NASSCO shipyard for the (5) State Class tankers now operated by APT-KM.
HEC EXPANDS VESSEL TRAFFIC RISK ANALYSIS ACTIVITIES
(Alameda, CA) Herbert Engineering Corp. has just completed three vessel traffic risk analyses as it expands its engineering services into this important field. HEC provides analysis of risk from changes to vessel traffic associated with new terminal projects or new regulations bringing a combination of analytical skills, emphasizing first principles approaches, together with practical experience in ship design and operations to effectively assess the risks associated with vessel traffic.
The recent projects include a potential new container ship terminal for Port Metro Vancouver (PMV), a potential LNG export terminal in Kitimat, BC, and a proposed oil transshipment operation.
The Roberts Bank Terminal 2 project involved developing frequencies of ship accidents and resulting potential oil spills from accident types including allisions, collisions, groundings, and fire/explosions for first the waters immediately adjacent to the potential terminal, and secondly in the waters extending to the Canadian territorial boundary at the western end of Juan de Fuca Strait in support of PMV’s submission to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency.
In northern BC, LNG Canada is planning an LNG export terminal to be located in Kitimat at the head of Douglas Channel nearly 160 NM inland from the Pacific Ocean. HEC simulated new vessel traffic patterns and predicted accident and spill frequencies in support of LNG Canada’s TERMPOL submission to Transport Canada. HEC conducted the HAZID workshop together with Worley Parsons Canada and participated in several engagement activities with First Nations along the proposed shipping route.
Subsea oil fields can also face special vessel traffic risks. In some cases the severe ocean climate and remote location require transshipment of oil from local shuttle tankers to long distance transport tankers. HEC assisted the oil majorin assessing overall oil transportation risk and in the comparison of two potential oil transshipment locations. HEC conducted a HAZID workshop and various traffic and grounding simulation studies using staff from its Alameda and Glasgow (HEE) branches.
For more information on HEC’s capabilities in this area contact Colin Moore at: cmoore@herbert.com.
BALLAST WATER TREATMENT SYSTEM NOW COMMISSIONED
(Annapolis, MD) HEC provided the installation design and obtained the class approvals for the Ecochlor ballast water treatment installation on the U.S. flag car carrier GREEN BAY for LMS Shipmanagement. This was the first of series of similar ballast water treatment systems designs being carried out by HEC for additional car cars, bulk carriers, and ATB barges for the same client.
HEC used laser scanning technology to develop a 3-D model of the engine room and deck spaces where the new equipment will be installed. Having the 3-D model greatly facilitated new equipment and piping installation design making it possible for new piping and equipment foundations to be prefabricated with confidence, knowing it will fit and be free of interferences. This expedited the design and installation, allowing the installation to be done with the vessel in service using riding teams.
This same technology can be used on all kinds of vessels and is particularly useful for retrofitting ballast water treatment systems in cramped existing engine rooms.