The world's only icebreaking gas carrier August 23rd, 2017
There are two views on the Northern Sea Route. Supporters of the first argue that it will never become profitable and no one will use it en masse, while supporters of the second argue that this is just the beginning: the ice will melt even more and let this one be the most profitable in certain circumstances. It seems to me that the latter are winning so far. It’s not for nothing that such topics are thrown about
The gas tanker Christophe de Margerie (shipowner PJSC Sovcomflot) successfully completed its first commercial voyage on August 17, 2017, delivering a shipment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) along the Northern Sea Route (NSR) from Norway to South Korea.
During the voyage, the ship set a new record for crossing the NSR - 6.5 days. At the same time, the Christophe de Margerie became the first merchant ship in the world that was able to navigate the NSR without icebreaker support along the entire length of this route.
While crossing the NSR, the ship covered 2,193 miles (3,530 km) from Cape Zhelaniya on the Novaya Zemlya archipelago to Cape Dezhnev on Chukotka, the easternmost mainland point of Russia. The exact transition time was 6 days 12 hours 15 minutes.
During the voyage, the ship again confirmed its exceptional suitability for working in high latitudes. The average speed during the passage exceeded 14 knots - despite the fact that in some sections the gas carrier was forced to go through ice fields up to 1.2 m thick. It is noted that the total duration of the voyage from Hammerfest (Norway) to Boryeong (South Korea) with using the Northern Sea Route was 22 days, which is almost 30% less than it would have taken to travel along the traditional southern route through the Suez Canal. The results of the voyage made it possible to once again confirm the economic efficiency of using the Northern Sea Route for the transit of large-capacity vessels.
Christophe de Margerie is the world's first and so far only icebreaking gas carrier. The unique vessel was built by order of the Sovcomflot group of companies for year-round transportation of LNG as part of the Yamal LNG project. The vessel was put into operation on March 27, 2017 after successful completion of ice trials, which took place in the Kara Sea and the Laptev Sea.
The gas carrier is capable of independently breaking through ice up to 2.1 m thick. The vessel has an Arc7 ice class - the highest among existing transport vessels. The propulsion power of the gas carrier is 45 MW, which is comparable to the power of a modern nuclear icebreaker. High ice-passing ability and maneuverability of the Christophe de Margerie are ensured by Azipod-type rudder propellers, while it became the first high-ice-class vessel in the world to have three Azipods installed at once.
The gas carrier is named after Christophe de Margerie, the former head of the Total concern. He played a key role in developing investment decisions and the technological scheme of the Yamal LNG project and made a significant contribution to the development of Russian-French economic relations as a whole.
The Sovcomflot Group of Companies (SCF Group) is the largest shipping company in Russia, one of the world's leading companies in the maritime transportation of hydrocarbons, as well as servicing offshore exploration and production of oil and gas. Its own and chartered fleet includes 149 vessels with a total deadweight of more than 13.1 million tons. Half of the ships have an ice class.
Sovcomflot participates in servicing large oil and gas projects in Russia and the world: Sakhalin-1, Sakhalin-2, Varandey, Prirazlomnoye, Novy Port, Yamal LNG, Tangguh (Indonesia). The company's head office is located in St. Petersburg, with representative offices located in Moscow, Novorossiysk, Murmansk, Vladivostok, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, London, Limassol and Dubai.
sources
Especially for transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG), such as methane, butane and propane, in tanks or reservoirs, gas carriers are used, which come in the form of refrigerated, semi-refrigerated or pressurized vessels.
Gas carriers: general information
In 1945, advances in technology allowed the construction of the first liquefied natural gas carrier, the Marlin Hitch, which was equipped with aluminum tanks and external balsa insulation. The first flight was from the USA to the UK with a load of 5 thousand cubic meters of cargo. It was later renamed "Methane Pioneer". At one time it was the largest in the world.
LNG carriers use refrigeration units to cool gases. Unloading occurs at special regasification terminals.
The construction of tankers for the transportation of liquefied natural gas takes place on the platforms of Japanese and Korean shipyards, such as Daewoo, Kawasaki, Mitsui, Samsung, Hyundai, Mitsubishi. Korean shipbuilders
manufactured more than two-thirds of gas carriers on the planet. The carrying capacity of modern vessels of the Q-Max and Q-Flex series is up to 210-266 thousand cubic meters. m LNG.
The demand for gas carriers is justified by the fact that natural gas is one of the main sources of fuel energy, used in the metallurgical and chemical industries, as well as for public utilities. 
household purposes.
Transporting gas by sea is a rather expensive method, but it is necessary if laying pipes on land is not possible and the place of gas production and its consumer are separated by seas or oceans. Despite these difficulties,
modern gas carriers fully cope with this task.
Depending on the type of substances transported, gas carriers can be divided into:
- gaseous chemical products;
- natural gas;
- associated gas.
Such a distribution is not only a theory, but a necessity, because gas has different physical and chemical properties and its own characteristics. Gas is transported separately from oil, because it can be explosive.
There are different types of tankers, such as rectangular self-supporting tanks, spherical tanks and two types of membrane tanks. There is currently no consensus on which vessel is the best.
More and more ships are being created every day. This is due to the increase in gas consumption and the increase in the volume of its transportation by water, as well as the presence of specialized loading ports. Modern tankers have overtaken the tankers of the 50s in size and are becoming real giants.
The world's largest gas carrier
It became known that the construction of one of the world's largest tankers for the production and transportation of natural gas has been completed. It is the brainchild of energy company Royal Dutch Shell.
The ship was named "Prelude". Its length is 488 meters. Once completed, the floating giant will float in the open sea off the coast of Western Australia.
The design of the gas carrier allows the production of LNG in all weather conditions and is capable of withstanding tropical cyclones of the fifth category. The floating complex is designed for gas production on the open sea and direct transfer to customer vessels.
The expected start of development of the first large deposits using Preludes is scheduled for 2017.
Modern gas carriers make it possible to produce gas from both large and remote small fields. Tanker designers are constantly working to reduce diesel fuel costs and
emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere.
Greek shipping companies aim for gas market
Following the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant (Japan) in March 2011 and the adoption of a program to convert nuclear power plants to liquefied gas, global demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) began to grow faster than the demand for any other fuel. As a result, on this wave, the demand for ships transporting liquefied gas has increased.
Mikhail Morekhodov, full member of the Petrovsky Academy of Sciences and Arts
A new kind of fleet
Today, the world's existing fleet of gas carriers is 365 tankers (LNG and LPG), which are capable of delivering liquefied gas to consumers. Their capacity is used at 98%. These are very high loads, and they cause concern among both charterers and shipowners about the technical condition of each vessel, carrying out preventive inspections and scheduled repairs on time. Increased demand in the gas market for tankers and the shortage of their tonnage on the world market caused an increase in charter rates for chartering vessels of this type and an increase in orders for their construction.
Observations of the freight market allow us to notice the following trends in the growth of freight rates:
2010 - daily freight rate was $37,000.
2011 - daily freight rate was $150,000.
2012 - daily freight rate increased to $160,000.
2013 - daily freight rate decreased to $160,000-120,000.
2014 - according to analysts’ forecasts, growth is expected to reach $200,000.
At the same time, it is very important to emphasize that the gas market is stable, the upward trend in freight rates continues, and there is a shortage of tanker tonnage (LNG and LPG) in the cargo transportation market.
Korean briefcase
However, it is necessary to consider the second side of the issue - the construction of ships of this type and the role of shipyards and shipping companies in filling the market with gas tankers of various tonnage. It should also be noted that not all shipyards can build them. Today, the world center for the construction of this fleet is in South Korea (more than 50% of world orders), as well as in Japan and China. It is important to note that the upward trend in orders and commissioning of these vessels continues. Thus, by 2017, the gas market will have to be replenished with more than 100 gas carriers. This should meet the growing demand for gas supplies to Japan and China. However, this will not solve the problem in the gas market due to the growing demand for these products. Therefore, starting from 2017 and over the next five years, 175 new gas tankers should be built, which will be able to stabilize the gas market by 2020.
The shipbuilders of South Korea turned out to be better prepared than others for such work. The experience gained in the construction of a series of ships for the transportation of liquefied gas for the shipping company KATARGAS, as well as the developed shipbuilding infrastructure, introduced technologies and technical solutions, including our own capabilities for supplying equipment for ships, and experienced and competent human resources, had an impact.
Today, along with the leading shipyards of South Korea, Hyundai Heavy Ind. (HHI), Samsung Heavy Ind. (SHI), Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineer (05DSME) the construction of ships of this type is carried out by the shipyards STX Offshore & Shipbuilding Co., Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD), Hyundai Samho Heavi Ind. (HSHI), Hyundai-Gunsan, Hanjin.
In 2010, shipyards in South Korea received an order for the construction of 40 gas tankers, which amounted to 70% of the total global order portfolio. Today, Korean shipbuilders have 70 ships of this type in their order portfolio.
The changing situation in the global energy sector and the increased use of gas as a unique energy carrier are increasing the demand for this product.
According to analysts' forecasts, global energy demand could grow by at least 35% by 2020. Gas supplies will grow not only in the Chinese-Japanese direction, but also in relation to countries such as Vietnam, Brazil, and India. The increasing level of consumption will remain until 2050. Southeast Asia will increase demand for LNG to 40 million tons per year by 2015, which will account for 13% of total Asia-Pacific demand. The growth will occur due to high rates of economic growth in the countries of the region.
Russia plans to double its share in the global LNG market by 2020 through the commissioning of new natural gas processing capacities and the development and development of new fields.
Greek accent
Greek shipowners are confident that a boom in LNG transportation is just around the corner and they need to prepare for it now in order to be competitive in the maritime gas transportation market. Today Greece owns 17% of the entire world merchant fleet. There are 750 shipping companies registered in the country with a total capital of $170 billion. Greek companies own about 4,150 ships (vessels of more than 1,000 DWT tons are registered on the list). Total DWT - 202 million tons. At the end of 2012, Greek companies ordered 82 tankers for transporting liquefied natural gas, the total order amount was $7.4 billion.
The Greek program for the construction of new types of vessels in the future may affect the work of other shipping companies in the gas transportation market. Greek shipowners are investing heavily in the construction of gas tankers.
Their role in international maritime transport of energy resources, investments in this direction look very significant. Only the first stage of construction of 25 main shipbuilding contracts for gas tankers with an average capacity of 150,000 cubic meters. m amounted to $5.5 billion. This suggests that this sector is interesting, stable, diverse and profitable. Therefore, the competition here between Greek shipping companies and companies from Norway and Japan will increase. When considering the investment policy of Greek shipping companies, it is important to pay attention to their stable performance in the cargo transportation market, sustainable business development and constant fleet renewal. They are confidently exploring the international gas transportation market.
The shipping company GAS LOG is international and considered the oldest in Greece. The company's management is located in Greece and Monaco. The order portfolio includes 6 gas tankers; a contract was signed with the shipbuilding company Samsung Heavy Ind. (SHI), investments amounted to $1.6 billion. The commissioning of newly built ships will be carried out during 2013-2015. Upon completion of construction, the company will have 15 gas carriers ranging from 155,000 to 174,000 cubic meters. m, with a total capacity of 2.4 million cubic meters. m. The company also manages 12 gas tankers.
The shipping company MARAN GAS Maritime is the largest Greek company, which operates 7 LNG ships with a capacity from 145,000 to 159,800 cubic meters. m. The company's order portfolio includes 17 gas carriers with a capacity from 159,800 to 174,000 cubic meters. m, ordered from shipyards in South Korea - Daewoo Shipbuilding&Marine Engineering (DSME) and Hyundai Samho Heavy Ind. (HSHI). The total investment amounted to $2.0 billion. Commissioning of the vessels is scheduled for 2014-2016.
Shipping company CARDIFF MARINE - the company operates 61 vessels, the total DWT is 8.2 million tons. The company ordered the construction of 4 gas tankers (plus 2 vessels reserved) at the DSME shipyard in South Korea at a cost of $212 million each vessel. Investments in the new building amounted to more than $1.0 billion. The company plans to invest in the development and construction of gas tankers and increase the total number of gas carriers to 21 vessels by 2015. This is a new product for a new market.
THENAMARIS shipping company has ordered 3 gas tankers from SAMSUNG Shipyard (SHI). Commissioning of the vessels is scheduled for 2014. It is important to note that the vessels will be handed over to the management of Berhard Shutle Shipmanagement due to the lack of trained crews and experience in operating such a fleet.
The shipping company DYNAGAS operates 72 vessels with a total DWT of 10.5 million tons. The company has ordered 7 gas carriers from the Hyundai Shipyard (HHI) and 1 tanker with a capacity of 160,000 cubic meters. m at the SAMHO shipyard (HSHI). The cost of the contract vessels is more than $1.6 billion. Commissioning is planned for 2014-2015.
The shipping company ALFA TANKER ordered 1 gas tanker from the shipyard STX Offshore & Shipbuilding Co. (South Korea) at a price of $200 million plus 1 tanker (option) at the same price. Commissioning is scheduled for 2015.
Shipping company ALMI TANKER - this medium-sized company by modern standards specializes in the transportation of oil and petroleum products. The company has 14 tankers (Aframax, Suezmax, VLCC), with a total DWT of about 2.0 million tons. The company plans to build two gas tankers, ordered from the DSME shipyard in South Korea at a cost of 200 million each. Newly built vessels will begin operating in the LNG shipping market in 2015.
Shipping company TSAKOS Energy Nav. (TEN) - the company has a fleet of 82 vessels with a total DWT of 8.2 million tons. Over the past 10 years, the company has been developing rapidly, receiving new vessels of various types and tonnage. The company has 2 gas tankers in its order book at the DSME shipyard. Negotiations are underway with the plant management to sign a contract for the construction of 6 more gas tankers, which will be built within 6 years.
The future of the LNG market
The global LNG market is expected to undergo significant changes in the next decade. They will happen in several directions at once: firstly, gas consumption will increase; secondly, the volume of gas processing and its supplies to the international market will increase; thirdly, the geography (direction) of cargo flows will change and the methods of delivering raw materials to consumers will expand.
The LNG market on a global scale will grow due to expected economic growth (especially in developing countries) and increased demand for energy resources, which are directly related to the consumption of blue fuel. It should be noted that natural gas is the most environmentally friendly product when burned (than coal and petroleum products). Therefore, an increase in the number of power plants that will run on natural gas is expected. At the same time, in a number of countries there is practically no production of natural gas, but the demand for its consumption is nevertheless growing.
According to experts, the volume of demand for natural gas will increase from 3149 billion cubic meters. m in 2008 to 4535 billion cubic meters. m in 2035. This is 44% more than the average annual growth (1.4%) for all previous years. Global natural gas use is expected to grow by 84% until 2035. On the Chinese side, growth is expected to be 5.9% per year. Demand will also increase over the forecast period in countries in the Middle East that do not have their own natural reserves, in particular in India and Latin America. North America and Europe (despite much slower economic growth) will also increase LNG demand by 12% of global consumption by 2035.
Natural gas consumption is also expected to increase at the interregional level from 670 million cubic meters. m in 2008 to 1187 million cubic meters. m by 2035. And the total volume of LNG trade is projected to increase from 210 billion cubic meters. m in 2008 to 500 billion cubic meters. m in 2035
Japan, South Korea, India, and China are the largest importers in Asia. In 2009, these countries imported about 55% of the global LNG market. Spain, France and the USA are the largest importers of LNG in the Atlantic basin, including England.
The largest producers and exporters of LNG are still considered to be Qatar, Malaysia and Indonesia, with 44% of the world market exports in 2009.
Other major producers - Nigeria, Algeria, Australia, Trinidad and Tobago are increasing their capacity. In 2010, liquefied gas capacity amounted to about 360 billion cubic meters. m per year. An additional 77 billion cubic meters. m is under development. Another 500 billion cubic meters. m is currently in the planning stage and the beginning of development. Australia, Russia, Nigeria and Iran account for 77% of global new LNG capacity development.
Russia and LNG
Russia is at the beginning of its journey in LNG production; today it accounts for about 5% of the world market. However, there are plans to increase its presence in the global LNG market to 10%. Increasing production volumes means building new gas processing plants and gas tankers for transporting finished products.
Russia currently has 10 gas tankers in operation. Another 6 LNG vessels are being built at Korean shipyards (HMD and STX shipyards). There is a preliminary agreement with the Korean leadership on the construction of five more ice-class gas tankers. In addition, a program for the construction of ships of this type at the domestic Zvezda shipyard is being considered. Thus, in the future, as a result of increasing LNG production in Russia, the high-tech marine fleet will also grow.
The production and transportation of liquefied natural gas does not require the construction of thousands of kilometers of pipelines. It is transported by a new type of vessel - gas tankers. Hence the flexibility of supplies and the expansion of opportunities to deliver gas to consumers anywhere in the world. It is expected that by 2030 the share of LNG consumption in the international gas market will reach 50%. Russia is developing both production and transportation of this product, focusing on Asian markets as the most dynamically developing ones. It is important not to be late and to take your place among the leading participants in this market on time.
Marine News of Russia No. 16 (2013)
For many centuries, merchant ships and warships have been plying the oceans. Sometimes people build such colossuses that, looking at photographs, it is difficult to imagine them. These hulks transport people, cargo, oil and gas. About the 6 largest watercraft in the world - further in the review.
1. Supertanker Knock Nevis
The longest ship ever built is the oil tanker Knock Nevis, previously known as the Jahre Viking. Knock Nevis is also considered the largest object ever created by man. Its maximum length is 458.45 meters and its displacement is 260,941 tons.
The supertanker first took to the water in 1979 when it left the Sumitomo Heavy Industries shipyard in Japan. The ship transported crude oil around the world and was even bombed in 1988 during the Iran-Iraq War. The ship caught fire in coastal waters and sank; it was completely written off. After the end of the war, the Jahre Viking was raised, repaired and put back into service.
To operate a supertanker, a crew of only 35 people is needed. The machine is driven by one 9-meter propeller, which makes 75 revolutions per minute. Thanks to this, a cruising speed of 16 knots (30 km/h) is achieved. To slow down, the ship needs 9 kilometers, and to turn around - 3 kilometers of water space.
Throughout its history, the ship has repeatedly changed its name, owners and port of registry. In 2009, the tanker made its last voyage to India, after which it was cut into metal.
2. Aircraft carrier USS Enterprise
The American USS Enterprise is the world's largest warship. This is a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, also known as CVA-65. This is already the eighth ship with this name in the American fleet, but the largest of all. It is 342 meters long and can carry up to 4,600 troops and 90 aircraft.
The nuclear power plant of eight reactors produces a maximum power of 280,000 hp, thanks to which the ship can reach a speed of 33.6 knots (62 km/h). These characteristics look even more impressive when you consider that the USS Enterprise was commissioned in 1962. In 2017, after 55 years of service, the ship was officially decommissioned. Before that, he managed to see the Cuban crisis, the Vietnam War, and the Iraq War, where he represented the military power of the United States.
3. Gas carrier Q-Max
The world's largest gas carriers are Q-Max vessels. Their displacement is 162,400 tons, length is 345 m, width is 55 meters. Q-max vessels can hold up to 266,000 cubic meters of natural gas and reach speeds of up to 19.5 knots (36 km/h).
There are currently 14 Q-Max class gas carriers in the world; each giant costs $290 million. The vessels were built by Samsung Heavy Industries, Hyundai Heavy Industries and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering. The first gas carrier in the series (Moza) was completed in 2007 at a shipyard in South Korea. The ship received its name in honor of the second wife of the ruler of Qatar.
4. Container ship CSCL Globe
In November 2014, the naming ceremony of the world's largest container ship CSCL Globe was held. This is the first of five container ships ordered by Chinese shipping company CSCL in 2013. The vessel is designed to sail on the route from Asia to Europe. The giant vessel, 400 meters long, has a displacement of 186,000 tons and can transport up to 19,100 shipping containers.
The CSCL Globe uses an electronically controlled MAN B&W engine producing 77,200 hp. 17.2 meters high.
5. Harmony of the Seas
For several decades in a row, Royal Caribbean International has been building new cruise ships that are increasingly larger than the previous ones. In 2016, he made his first voyage, Harmony of the Seas, 362 meters long. The ship accommodates 2,200 crew and 6,000 passengers on voyages across the Mediterranean, Atlantic and Caribbean.
Harmony of the Seas displaces 225,282 tons and reaches a top speed of 22.6 knots (41.9 km/h).
There are plenty of entertainment options on board to keep you entertained for weeks on end: a spa, a casino, an escape room, an ice skating rink, a surf simulator, a theater, two climbing walls, a zip line, swimming pools, a basketball court, a small golf course and even a water park.
The Harmony of the Seas cost an estimated billion dollars to build, making it one of the most expensive commercial ships ever built.
6. TI class supertankers
The largest oil tankers still in service are the TI class supertankers. These vessels are TI Africa, TI Asia, TI Europe and TI Oceania. Mega-tankers were built in South Korea in 2003 for the Greek company Hellespont.
The TI class vessels are "only" 380 meters long - 78 meters shorter than the Knock Nevis. Each of them displaces 234,006 tons and when fully loaded they can reach a speed of 16.5 knots (30.5 km/h). A total of 4 ocean giants were built, which are still in use today.
And just recently they were considered record-breaking
A very quick tour of the gas carrier March 22nd, 2012
A modern Korean-built liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker.
The yellow structures on the deck are the tops of the cargo tanks.
The icons under the fairlead indicate that there is a bulb and a thruster.
Cargo manifolds are traditionally located in the midship area.
In the white superstructure in the cargo deck area there is a cargo machinery room (compressor room). The cargo pumps themselves are submersible and located in tanks.
The navigation bridge is quite simple for a modern, very expensive vessel and does not look “sophisticated” - a standard kit.
Steering column with steering wheel. The little blue handle located to the right of the steering wheel is a backup method of controlling the steering machine in case of failure of the “following” mode.
Let's go on instruments! On modern ships, the so-called navigation panel (conning display), which contains various information about the movement of the vessel.
PUGO - cargo operations control post.
Valves, pumps, compressors and other crap are controlled using computer terminals. The vessel is equipped with a centralized automation system. Above the console there are monitors of the video surveillance system - several cameras are installed both outside the vessel and in some interior spaces.
T.N. cargo computer. With its help, the first mate calculates the stability and other safety elements of the vessel for different loading/ballasting modes, both for sea passage, and for parking in a port and for cargo operations.
Control panel for the operation of cargo pumps - pressure after the pump, operating current of the drive motor. An attentive viewer will notice that the amperage is very small, the operating current is somewhere in the range of 60 amperes and, accordingly, the pumps have low power. However, it should be noted that this vessel is equipped with a high voltage power plant with a nominal voltage of 6,600 volts, which produces the same power as a low voltage but high current pump. Increasing the voltage also has a very positive effect on the dimensions of equipment and cable cross-sections.
Let's take a look at the deck and make sure that nothing particularly interesting is visible there. ;-)
Let's take a look into the engine room. The vessel is built according to the newfangled diesel-electric ship trend. Therefore, it only has an auxiliary boiler.
4 diesel generators installed. The diesel drive engines operate on dual fuel. The main operating mode is gas, with the addition of a small amount of diesel fuel to ensure diesel processes.
Generators are much taller than human beings.
Electric motors are used as propulsion engines. This is what a transformer looks like for one of them.
Two propeller engines are installed.
But they work on one shaft through a gearbox.
A spacious elevator serves the engine room. In addition, a regular-sized elevator was installed on the residential decks of the superstructure.
Pumps.
To control the rotation speed of the propulsion electric motors, frequency converters are installed. The thyristor modules in them are water cooled. To prevent damage to electrical components in the event of a possible leak, the salinity (conductivity) of the water is controlled.
CPU - central control station. As in PUGO - control via computer terminals. The system is one with the PUGO - as I said above, the automation system is centralized.
Power plant control screen. The ship is at anchor, so only one generator is running at 19% capacity. The lack of optimal load on diesel generators when parked is one of the disadvantages of electric ships.
And finally, a little sweet. View of the cargo tank of this gas carrier from the inside. In the distance a column with cargo pumps and level meters is visible. It may appear that the tank is lined with bricks. But that's not true. The membrane just has some semblance of corrugation.
This is what it looks like up close.
And here you can look at the entire tank insulation sandwich.
I'll finish the review here.
Yes, it turned out to be quite short. But if there is interest, later I can make a slightly more detailed review of the oldest gas carrier in the world today with a similar membrane design, as well as another modern gas carrier with an alternative design of cargo tanks (spherical).
