Global shuttle tanker services provider Teekay and Finnish technology developer Wärtsilä have developed a new shuttle tanker concept, which is intended to offer a new level of economic and ecological capabilities.
It is expected to reduce yearly carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions equivalents by more than 40% compared to traditional shuttle tankers.
The concept’s dual-fuel engines are designed to use liquefied natural gas (LNG) as the primary fuel and have been developed to run on a combination of LNG and recovered volatile organic compounds (VOC) gas that evaporates from oil cargo tanks during loading.
The use of recovered VOC as fuel is anticipated to reduce the amount of harmful emissions into the atmosphere, as well as cut the ships’ bunkering requirements.
Furthermore, the nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from the engines’ exhaust are expected to be reduced by more than 80%, while sulphur oxide (SOx) emissions set to be almost completely eliminated and particulate emissions will be reduced by more than 95%.
The newly developed concept features a variety of Wärtsilä solutions, including a hybrid system that forms the basis of the ship’s power distribution.
A full Wärtsilä electric and automation system comprising the low loss hybrid (LLH) system and batteries, an LNGPac fuel storage and supply system, a Wärtsilä VOC system, 34DF dual fuel gas engines and other solutions is also included in the concept.
Wärtsilä Marine Solutions president Roger Holm said: “These ships will have tremendous operational flexibility with unmatched manoeuvring capability, and will achieve what all operators are striving for today, namely optimal economic and environmental performance.”
Teekay has already placed orders for the development of four new vessels to be built using the new concept.
Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) is set to build the vessels at its yard in South Korea.
Wärtsilä has also received an order worth more than €110m for a vessel featuring the ‘next-generation’ design.
