Danish ship designer Knud E. Hansen has developed a medium-capacity LNG bunkering ship as part of its X-gas project.
The flagship design of the X-gas project will have 126.5 metres in length with a total cargo capacity of 9,000 cubic metres, split between two type C tanks, the firm said on Monday.
“The platform, however, is highly customizable and can be tailored to accommodate a range of tank capacities, as well as various containment systems including membrane tanks,” the firm said.
Knud E. Hansen says the “most unique feature” of the X-gas platform is a low-profile, forward deck house.
This enables the vessel to safely approach and pull alongside cruise ships with low-hanging lifeboats but also minimizes the need for ballast during cargo transfer, thereby lowering operational costs, it said.
In addition, the forward deck house allows for larger cargo tanks without impeding bridge visibility, it said.
Electric power included as well
For improved maneuvering and safety, the design features two propulsion thrusters aft and two bow thrusters, as well as an autodocking system for alongside mooring, the firm said.
Moreover, the design features a “novel and extremely” fuel-efficient diesel electric power and propulsion plant consisting of one of dual-fuel 4-stroke engines.
The propulsion plant will also have an energy storage system (ESS) with a lithium-ion battery bank that allows for engine load optimization with reduced methane slip, the firm said.
The batteries also provide all of the power required during cargo transfer, resulting in no emissions or exhaust during the bunkering operation, an especially important feature for passenger vessels, Knud E. Hansen said.
The dual-fuel engines will also use boil-off gas from the cargo tanks.
Another unique feature of the design is an aft ‘energy bay’ that allows the vessel to provide containers loaded with fuel or stored electrical power to a receiving vessel.
“It also enables the vessel to provide fully charged battery banks to remote locations ashore, where current infrastructure does not allow sufficient power to be provided,” the firm said.
Knud E. Hansen added it is also working on expanding the X-gas platform to accommodate zero-emission fuels such as liquid and compressed hydrogen to meet the growing demand in this sector.