Finland’s technology firm Wartsila has secured a contract to supply reliquefaction equipment for two Knutsen’s LNG carriers.
Norway-based Knusten recently ordered the vessel at KSOE, the parent of South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries.
Both of the 174,000-cbm LNG carriers will go on charter to Poland’s PGNiG for its contracted supplies from the US.
The order also includes an option for an additional two vessels.
Under the new contract, Wartsila will supply its Compact Reliq reliquefaction plant for the vessels. The tech is new so these will be the first installations for the reliquefaction solution, according to the Finnish firm.
The solution is based on the reversed nitrogen Brayton cycle refrigeration technology. It reliquefies the boil-off gas (BOG) from gas carriers and LNG bunker vessels, and keeps the cargo cool under all operating conditions.
Furthermore, the tech allows a portion of the BOG to be used as fuel for the ship’s engines, with the excess able to be sold as part of the LNG cargo.
Wartsila said it would start deliveries to Hyundai Heavy in February 2022.
Both of the LNG carriers should begin commercial operations from late 2022.