Get on top of boil-off gas (BoG) documentation
Replacing conventional estimation procedures with a Tunable natural gas analyser is the first step LNG shippers should take, aiming to improve their fleet’s greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint according to CII and EU ETS requirements.
From Estimates to Real-time Data
Sailors have always preferred accurate data over assumptions. Until now LNG ship owners have been burdened with cumbersome boil-off gas estimates. Continuous, automated measuring is a better, more profitable way to document fuel consumption and emissions, than estimating.
CII Compliance & Fleet Performance
CII compliance requires an annual reduced carbon footprint of their fleets by 2%, to stay in traffic. The risks associated with uncertainties of estimates include running vessels on reduced speed, and other expensive actions with poor effect, or even premature loss of license to operate for older vessels. Incorporating valuable gas data in operations is a clear path to improving vessel overall performance in compliance with CII.
Tunable Natural Gas Analyser
The Tunable natural gas analyser is the go-to-instrument for accurate gas composition analysis. This versatile instrument continuously delivers gas data, streamed directly into the power management system of the ship.
The analyser identifies all major hydrocarbons (C1 to C5) and N2, calculating the calorific value and methane number in real-time.
Taking Nitrogen Out of the Equation
LNG carriers use BoG as fuel, which contains large amounts of N2 that is not defined as GHG emissions. IMO and EU allow ship owners to subtract nitrogen consumption from the reported fuel mix. The nitrogen boils off first. Therefore, even a small amount of nitrogen in LNG will contribute to a large amount of nitrogen consumed in the fuel of the vessel, for some destinations as much as 10-15%. The amount of consumed nitrogen in BoG varies greatly depending on the quality of LNG loaded, length of voyage, speed of vessel, weather condition on the trip, and condition of the ship and equipment. Using continuous measuring to document nitrogen consumption in the boil-off provides leverage to ship owners, and simplifies documentation activities towards IMO, EU, and charterers. The ability to determine the actual hydrocarbon consumption of the boil-off is necessary to support the claim that they have improved their CII. Continuous measurement of BoG is the easiest and most accurate way to calculate the nitrogen consumed as fuel.
A Game-Changer for Operational Efficiency
The Tunable gas analyser is a small investment, easily installed on vessels. It is a robust technology, withstanding rough environments and vibrations on sea. No need for manual support to operate and no consumable parts, mean operational costs (OPEX) nearly down to zero.
Vessel management and crew experience several advantages from continuous gas measurements; saving manual documentation labour, enabling strategic bunkering and trip planning, optimising the fuel mix for increased engine efficiency and reduced GHG emissions.
Numbers that Make a Difference
So what impact can continuous gas measurements have on business? Here are a few examples:
The true value of nitrogen data. The LNG quality of a Middle East LNG is typically around 0,3%. The nitrogen volume will vary between 4-8%, depending on voyage length, speed, weather and more. Keeping track of this volume can improve CII by 4-8%, thus extending the lifetime of the vessels by 2-4 years, without doing other costly actions, like speed reductions.
Keeping the speed up. If a vessel has to reduce speed from 18 to 16 knots to comply, according to estimations, it cuts about 10% of the revenue of the vessel. An accurate measurement could suggest other actions to meet requirements, without or delaying the need to reduce the speed.
Extending vessel lifetime. The cost of a new vessel is USD 250-300 million. If a vessel can run for two more years before scrapping, there is significant money to be saved, and yard capacity is sold out for the next 2-3 years. Assuming 20 years lifetime of the vessel, two extra years represent a value of USD 10-15 million.
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