TRANSFER SYSTEMS
Many players, one goal
Creating compatibility from diversity in LNG operations
In liquefied natural gas (LNG) transfer,
diversity is the norm. From traditional import
and export terminals to floating storage
regasification units (FSRUs), LNG barges and
LNG carriers (LNGCs), LNG connections and
transfers vary substantially. The LNG market
is changing rapidly, and new opportunities
are bringing new entrants into the game.
For each of these applications and
stakeholders, there are many and diverse
solutions and systems available, and
constantly changing environmental
conditions to adapt to. At the same
time, the LNG industry is especially – and
necessarily – safety conscious, committed
to best practice and premium solutions.
In such a context, managing interfaces
at various stages of the LNG supply chain is
vital to safe and efficient transfer. Optimising
and standardising the interface between
all parties involved in the LNG transfer
process is critical, as is cutting the time
taken to navigate the channel, dock, moor,
transfer, de-berth, and depart. This is a
considerable challenge when one reflects
on the diversity of stakeholders involved
in the process: the jetty marine operator,
the mooring crew, tugboat operators,
pilot, and onshore control room team.
It is somewhat surprising then, given that
the industry is usually so focused on “best
practice”, that interface management is
often not specified until late in the project
process. By assessing and ensuring system
compatibility early, stakeholders can
achieve the flexibility they need to ensure
their business model works now and into
the evolving conditions of the future.
Whilst there is much diversity to contend
with, whether the project is about
expanding the capabilities of existing
infrastructure or delivering gas in new and
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challenging environments, LNG industry
project owners have a converging view.
They always look for a business model
that accelerates and maximises ROI
while meeting their most demanding
safety standards. The importance of
compatibility between the two parties –
or three in the case of FSRU applications
– extends to the fender systems, hoses,
data transfer and communication, and
the docking and mooring solutions used.
Safeguarding transfer
There must be a holistic approach to
projects, and this will become even more
critical in the burgeoning small-scale
sector with the more frequent transfers it
will require. To ensure this compatibility,
large and small-scale terminals and vessels
alike need a robust interface strategy.
It takes knowledge of the overall process
to approach planning in the optimum way.
That means sound engineering knowledge
in mechanical and structural engineering,
electrical and instrumentation engineering,
and software and communication
engineering. All of these requirements must
also be considered within the broader
picture of up to date knowledge of all
standards – electrical, class, and regional
– and the interpretation of these within
the individual operating conditions.
A good example of a successful up
front holistic approach is the ship-shore link
(SSL). The majority of the world’s LNG cargo
fleets and terminals are equipped with SSL
technology, a system for communicating
the emergency shutdown (ESD) signals,
telephone, and process data required
when cargo transfer is undertaken from
ship-to-shore and from shore-to-ship.
International regulations require ships
and terminals to have two independent
links available and also present a
minimum of one system for compatibility
requirements for passing along mutual
ESD signals between ship and shore. The
SSL system can handle all known types
of links from fibre optic to electric: pyle
national, Miyaki, ITT Cannon, and “SIGTTO
style connectors” and pneumatic. The
SSL-ESD ensures secure ESD signalling
to mutually shut down ship and shore
pumping and transfer systems in the event
of an abnormal condition or emergency.
Case in point
Dave Pendleton, managing director at
Trelleborg’s marine systems operation in the UK
In 2016, a major milestone was reached
when the 600th Trelleborg SeaTechnik SSL
was shipped for installation on a 174 000m3
LNGC (Hull number 2411) being built by
Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering
(DSME) at their Okpo shipyard at Goeje
Island in South Korea, for Teekay Shipping.
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TRANSFER SYSTEMS
Robust interface strategies help operators working with LNG vessels
David Glendinning, president at Teekay
Gas Services, comments: “Our business is
the safe, efficient transport of LNG for our
customers. The SSL is a mission critical system
in the cargo transfer process. Additionally,
each of our vessels is also backed by
Trelleborg’s Fleet Support Service, which
ensures an expert is always at the end
of the telephone and email 24/7.”
“As one of the world leaders in the
supply of LNGCs and FSRUs, we recognise
that the SSL is vital to the performance of
our customers’ vessels as a trading asset,”
Odin Kwon of DSME shipyard confirms.
The SSL-ESD helps to prevent damaging
surge pressures that could lead to spillages
of cryogenic liquid, which could in turn
compromise the hull integrity through
“cold-cracking”. The SSL, which should
be ATEX, IECEx and SIL2 certified, handles
the ESD, telephony, process information,
and mooring load monitor data.
While a variety of different solutions were
used up to the late 90s, the SeaTechnik
integrated SSL assured full compatibility
between the ship and any of the main
systems installed at terminals around
the world. This cost-effective flexibility
was a significant factor in facilitating
the LNG trade to change from the liner
to the spot market in a decade when
the world fleet expanded three-fold.
Richard Hepworth, business unit
president at Trelleborg‘s marine systems
operation, says: “We are very proud of
our track record in customer service and
innovation. Teekay and DSME have been
key customers for us since the introduction
of our first SSL product 15 years ago.
“Innovation is an essential part of who
we are and what we do and in that
time we have constantly evolved our
technology from the first analogue systems
to the latest digital systems controlling
complex FSRUs and LNG fuelling for
marine vessels, including full process data
transfer between vessels and terminals.”
An ongoing evolution
Trelleborg is working to evolve its solutions
for the LNG industry, and the Trelleborg’s
fluid handling solutions operation recently
marked a major milestone too, with the
launch of a first of its kind Cryoline floating
LNG hose-in-hose transfer system, which
improves safety and lowers operator
costs – improving access to LNG fuel.
The cryogenic floating hose system
enables rethinking of the conventional
wisdom in LNG ship-to-shore transfer
for regasification, liquefaction, and
terminal storage, as well as for gas power
generation projects. It also offers a
more viable and innovative alternative
to existing ship-to-ship transfer systems,
ensuring higher safety and operability
standards through optional increased
distances between vessels. And in utilising
aerial hoses with large inner diameters
ranging from 16” to 20”, operators have
a greater choice of configuration, more
flexibility, and a less strenuous replacement
to conventional ship-to-ship systems.
“The Cryoline hose-in-hose transfer system
with its full extended range from 6” to 20”
inner diameters is truly a ‘game changing’
technology, which will contribute to
making it easier and cheaper to transfer
LNG. It fulfils our philosophy of providing
our customers with feasible solutions that
improve productivity levels, protect the
environment, save valuable resources, and
make a genuine difference to the bottom
line for operators and suppliers,” Vincent
Lagarrigue, sales manager for Trelleborg’s
fluid handling solutions operation, says.
“In today’s challenging markets,
optimising operability is crucial. Trelleborg’s
cryogenic floating hose is the only
solution that could potentially offer up
to 80% in operating cost reductions
compared with traditional transfer
solutions, equating to significant savings.”
Key applications for the Cryoline
hose-in-hose transfer system include
ship-to-shore configuration, ship-toship floating configuration (FSRU), and
ship-to-ship aerial configuration.
Conclusion
Trelleborg is currently working to raise
awareness of the need to specify interface
management early in the design process,
and the need for stakeholders to do so
in conjunction with a systems integrator
experienced in project management,
application engineering, mechanical,
electrical, and software engineering
expertise, and the ability to interpret and
apply local, global, and class standards.
For the LNG industry, project diversity
is the norm, as is looking for the quickest
ROI whilst meeting the most demanding
safety standards. The industry requires the
most reliable and experienced partners to
optimise the business model of any LNG
transfer operation. The most integrated
and configurable equipment solutions
are critical to ensure safe, efficient, and
cost-effective LNG transfer operations
and ultimately, to sell more gas.
Overall, solutions for LNG transfer must be
designed to optimise the business equation
of LNG loading and unloading operations.
That means engineering infrastructure with
all major key performance indicators in
mind, from reduced time to operation,
to capex optimisation and competitive
operational lifecycle costs. From new
market entrants to the traditional
players, all LNG project owners should
have this common goal and focus. z
For more information:
This article was written by Dave Pendleton,
managing director at Trelleborg’s marine systems
operation in the UK. Visit: www.trelleborg.com
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