Specifications and Requirements for LPG and LNG Ships to Sail in International Waters

A large number of merchant ships are designed and constructed for carrying different types of liquefied gases from one port to another. Since cargo in gaseous form will take much more volume than when in liquid condition, the gases are condensed and liquefied for carrying them in ships.

Types of Liquefied Gas Carriers

There are basically two types of gas carrier ships:

1)      LPG Carrier: Liquefied petroleum gas Ships carries LPG gas along with some other gases like ammonia, propylene, ethylene as their construction and equipments are suited to carry such gases also.

Ethylene cannot be carried in LPG tanker as its boiling point is very low (-104 ̊C).

2)      LNG carrier: LNG gas or Liquefied Natural gas from which, major impurities like sulphur and carbon dioxide have been removed, is carried in LNG carrier ships.

LNG is transported in the form of liquefied methane after cooling it to its boiling point, – 163 ̊C.

Regulatory Requirements for LNG and LPG

As per International Maritime Organisation, a liquefied gas ship can only run in international waters if it is constructed and operated as per International Gas Carrier (IGC) 1986 code and complies with SOLAS 74 chapter VII part C –“construction and equipment of ships carrying liquefied gases in bulk.

The brief requirements described in IGC code are:

• Damage limitations to cargo and ship survival in case of collision or grounding.

• Safety arrangement requirements for such ship.

• Cargo containment and cargo handling procedure.

• Material of construction for containment and carriage facility.

• Requirements for cargo loading and discharging.

• Fire protection requirements.

• Pollution control requirements.

• Usage of cargo as ship’s machinery fuel.

• provision for thermal expansion and contraction is provided

Constructional requirements

Different types of cargo tanks should be provided with special material at maintained pressure as described in the constructional and cargo handling requirement of IGC code for both LPG and LNG ships.

LPG ship cargo carriage requirements

LPG can be carried by sea if any one of the three criteria is fulfilled:

• It is solely under pressure maintained at ambient temperature.

• It is fully refrigerated at its boiling point.

• It is semi refrigerated but at elevated temperature and elevated pressure.

Other important auxiliaries that are required are:

• A well insulated and refrigerated LPG tank to fulfil any of the above criteria

• A compressor room compressors and refrigeration plants

• A nitrogen bank as well as an inert gas generator with dryer system

• The cargo temperature and environment data monitoring system

• Tank atmosphere and temperature data is monitoring system

LNG ship cargo carriage requirements

LNG is carried at very low temperature which can cause crack in the metal structure if cargo comes in contact with the ship’s hull. Moreover,

• LNG carrier must have a cargo tank with double layer of insulation protection.

• Material used for tank must have very low coefficient of thermal expansion (invar).

• To be provided with vaporiser to meet its own vapours requirements.

• Re gasification plant should be provided(optional)

You may also like to read-Panamax and Aframax Tankers: Oil Tankers with a Difference

References: Book on Ship construction by D.J Eyres