AET unveils world's first LNG dynamic positioning shuttle tankers

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The following is text of a news release from AET:

(SINGAPORE) — AET, a leading petroleum tanker owner and operator, has named its newest vessels, two of the world's first LNG dual-fuel dynamic positioning shuttle tankers (DPSTs). The vessels, the cleanest DPSTs ever built, will emit 40 to 48 percent less carbon than equivalent vessels built in 2008, meeting the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) target of reducing carbon (CO2) emissions by 40 percent against 2008 baselines by 2030, and halving CO2 emissions by 2050.

These LNG DPSTs also emit 85 percent less SOx, 98 percent less NOx, 98 percent less particulate matter and 93 percent less black carbon particulates than DPSTs burning conventional fuel.

The sister twin-skeg 123,100-dwt shuttle tankers, Eagle Blane and Eagle Balder, were unveiled at a naming ceremony held at the Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) Geoje Shipyard, South Korea.

The vessels will serve Norwegian energy company Equinor on long-term charter for operations both in oilfields on the Norwegian Continental Shelf of the North Sea, Norwegian Sea and the southern Barents Sea, as well as on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf.

Powered using liquefied natural gas (LNG) as primary fuel, the DPSTs will also be able to capture 100 percent of the harmful volatile organic compounds (VOC) which escape into the air from crude oil cargoes during loading and voyage for reuse as a supplementary fuel.

Utilizing a more efficient system for dynamic positioning (the activity of ensuring the vessel remains stationary above a specified area of seabed while loading oil at sea), combined with the LNG dual-fueling and VOC recovery systems, these vessels will save up to an estimated 3,000 tonnes fuel per year compared with conventional DPSTs of the same size.

The vessels have been constructed by Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), for AET Sea Shuttle AS (AETSS), a joint venture between Norwegian shipping company ADS Shipping and AET Tankers headquartered in Singapore, as the owner and commercial operator of the vessels. Project management for the newbuilds was provided by MISC Group's marine services arm Eaglestar and Norwegian third-party ship management company, OSM Maritime.

By Professional Mariner Staff