The technology company The Linde Group has been awarded a contract by Arctech Helsinki Shipyard of Finland to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel gas system for a new icebreaker for the Finnish Transport Agency.
The vessel has been designed especially for the demanding icebreaking operations in the Baltic Sea. The LNG tanks will be the biggest ever installed for this kind of application.
“This project is an important step for the marine industry. In the wake of a growing environmental awareness and stricter emission standards there is clearly an increasing commitment to LNG as marine fuel,” said Lars Persson, Managing Director of CRYO AB, part of Linde’s Engineering Division . “We are proud to contribute to this important development. The contract award shows once again our strong market recognition for LNG fuel systems,” he added.
The core of the LNG fuel gas system consists of two 400 m³ vacuum-insulated tanks which will be installed vertically below deck. CRYO will develop and manufacture the system at its premises in Gothenburg, Sweden. CRYO’s technology is proven to allow a safe and efficient storage of LNG onboard various ship types. The icebreaker will use both diesel and LNG as fuel, resulting in substantially lower emissions and operating costs.
Arctech Helsinki Shipyard will build the new icebreaker for the Finnish Transport Agency. The vessel will also be equipped for oil spill response operations and emergency towing missions. The ship will be commissioned by winter 2016.
[mappress] Press Release, June 16, 2014; Image: Arctech