(Singapore, 4 November 2020)
BW LPG announces today the successful completion of sea and gas trials for Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC) BW Gemini, which has been retrofitted with pioneering Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) dual-fuel propulsion technology.
The gas and sea trials took approximately seven days, with intermittent delays caused by inclement weather in waters offshore Hong Kong. The pioneering LPG propulsion technology onboard was tested to its safe limits by an expert team from engine manufacturer MAN ES, BW LPG’s Newbuilding & Projects and Technical departments, and classification society DNV-GL. Following satisfactory performance, DNV-GL has awarded the required classification certificate to BW Gemini.
Says Pontus Berg, BW LPG Executive Vice President (Technical and Operations), “On behalf of the Management of BW LPG, we thank our BW team on site and in office, and partners such as MAN ES, Wartsila Gas Solutions, DNV-GL, Isle of Man flag and You Lian Shekou dockyard. BW Gemini is a testament to what industry collaboration can achieve – together, we can pioneer the technology needed to decarbonize shipping and realize a zero-carbon future.”
Says Cristina Saenz de Santa Maria, Regional Manager for South East Asia, Pacific & India at DNV GL Maritime, “We are very pleased to have worked with BW LPG to realize this ground-breaking retrofit project. With the pioneering conversion to LPG, BW LPG is demonstrating that not only can shipowners step up to cut their emissions in operation, but that the conversion itself can play a role in reducing the industry’s overall environmental impact. We hope more owners will look to these kinds of new fuels as the industry moves to decarbonize and DNV GL stands ready to support the industry with our unmatched technical expertise and unique classification solutions.”
BW Gemini has achieved a historic milestone as the world’s first VLGC to be fueled by LPG, with the retrofitted main engine running on LPG and switching to traditional fuel seamlessly. The vessel will sail on full LPG propulsion across the Pacific Ocean in another historic first, to Enterprise Port in Houston, Texas, for loading. Her voyage is expected to produce 20% less greenhouse gas emissions compared to compliant fuels, and use 10% less fuel, demonstrating the benefits of LPG propulsion to the industry.
For further information, please contact:
Pontus Berg
Executive Vice President (Technical and Operations)
E-mail: pontus.berg@bwlpg.com
Lisa Lim
Head of Corporate Communications
Tel: +65 9732 9596
E-mail: lisa.lim@bwlpg.com
About BW LPG
BW LPG is associated with BW Group, one of the world’s leading shipping groups. BW Group controls a fleet of over 360 ships which includes product tankers, LNG and LPG carriers, floating storage and regasification (FSRU) units, dry cargo carriers, crude oil supertankers and floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) units.
