Change of exploitation parameters of a vessel after the switch to the usage of LNG as the main fuel

Abstract

The study presents the analysis of the changes in the fuel autonomy and the effective range performed by the vessels which underwent modernization in order to use LNG as the main fuel. In this article various variants of modernization were considered. It is suggested that the project core geometry of the self-propelled tankers and tugboats should not be altered. The change in the parameters of the fuel autonomy after placing the cryogenic fuel tanks of different constructions was estimated. The various operating modes of cargo tanks of different constructions were observed. Besides that, there are two possible operating modes, particularly the drainage mode and the drain-free mode. It is proved that the tug boats’ fuel autonomy is reduced 2 times. The usage of the boil-off-gas in the self-propelled LNG carrier’s engine compensates for the decrease in the fuel autonomy. Thus, it depends on the distance between the final consumer of LNG and the loading satellite terminal of the cryogenic product whether to opt for using self-propelled or tug and barge transport.