Siemens Drilling and Marine, Dresser-Rand, Lloyd’s Register and more team up to speed availability of LNG as marine fuel

LNG-Powered-ShipA ‘best of industry’ team, led by Siemens Drilling and Marine, Dresser-Rand and Lloyd’s Register, aims to provide an end-to-end solution that will remove obstacles that can hold back wide-spread adoption of natural gas as the marine fuel of choice.
“Our integrated solution, encompassing the entire supply chain of LNG including gas-fueled marine propulsion systems, will remove the chicken-and-egg hurdle from the LNG-equation,” says David Grucza, Siemens Drilling and Marine. “This is a disruptive concept for the maritime industry, and the technology exists for immediate adoption. This joint solution is not limited geographically, and we stand ready to support the marine industry globally, although our initial focus is on deploying U.S. shale gas.”
The initial end-to-end solution offered to the North American inland and coastal waterways community comprises the following elements: LNGo liquefaction barge; LNG bunkering barge (C-Type tanks with up to 2,500 cu.m capacity); and 4,200 or higher horsepower river pushboat. It has been designed and engineered by Waller Marine Inc. (WMI) and the Shearer Group Inc. (TSGI), respectively, and will be constructed by Conrad Industries shipyard in Texas.
“Together, the team brings a holistic answer to the LNG marine fuel question of what comes first – the bunkering station or the engine?” says David Waller, President, Waller Marine, Inc. “The innovative solution to this industry hurdle includes the entire supply chain from liquefaction, LNG bunkering and design, all while meeting EPA and USCG compliance and providing smart, sustainable, lower greenhouse gas alternative fuels to operators.”
“Lloyd’s Register is well placed to support a new fleet of gas-fueled ships – and help them to operate safely and efficiently,” says Mark Darley, Americas Regional Marine Manager and President of Lloyd’s Register North America (LRNA). “Our expertise and leadership in gas technology and operations – from gas carriers to LNG bunkering and gas as a marine fuel – helps lead to the best decisions based on the best, independent, technical insight.”

The industry team

Siemens AG
Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is active in more than 200 countries, focusing on the areas of electrification, automation and digitalization. One of the world’s largest producers of energy-efficient, resource-saving technologies, Siemens is a leader in offshore wind turbine construction, and in supplying gas and steam turbines for power generation, a major provider of power transmission solutions and a pioneer in infrastructure solutions.

Dresser-Rand
Dresser-Rand a Siemens Business, is among the largest suppliers of rotating equipment solutions to the worldwide oil, gas, petrochemical, and process industries.

Lloyd’s Register
Lloyd’s Register is the leading classification society in the gas carrier market – both for LNG and LPG – and is also taking a leadership role in the international development of gas as a marine fuel. Lloyd’s Register has established clear standards describing different levels of readiness to use natural gas as a marine fuel. It also provides training on the key practical aspects of modern LNG carriage by sea and risk management services to support safe LNG bunkering.

Waller Marine
Waller Marine, Inc. is a global leader in the design of Floating Gas to Liquids (GTL), Floating Power Generation and Floating Liquefaction (LNG) and is is a licensed engineering firm with EPC capabilities.

Conrad Industries
Conrad Industries Inc. specializes in the construction, conversion and repair of a wide variety of marine vessels for commercial and governmental customers and the fabrication of modular components of offshore drilling rigs and floating, production, storage and offloading vessels.It has been awarded a contract to build a 2,200 cu.m. LNG bunkering barge — the first in the U.S.

The Shearer Group
The Shearer Group, Inc., founded in 2010, provides naval architecture, marine engineering, marine surveying and professional engineer services to clients in the inland and offshore marine industries.