Germany’s Schulte Group unveils LNG bunker vessel design

Schulte Group has unveiled its next-generation design for an LNG bunker vessel that is said to meet current and known future requirements for at-sea LNG bunker deliveries and reduces last-mile costs.

Presented at Gastech Exhibition and Conference in Milan, the vessel design eliminates the need for fenders and spacer pontoons, which require time and manpower to deploy manually, in favor of an integrated outrigging system that is compatible with any vessel type and can be operational in five minutes with the push of a button, the shipping group said.

Schulte said the vessel can be operated by a smaller crew and fits with all known and soon-to-come LNG-fuelled vessels. It also features warming-up, gas freeing and aeration equipment to prepare LNG-fuelled vessels for drydock, and flexible design options geared towards reducing the capex and opex costs for owners and operators, ultimately achieving low last-mile costs for the industry.

As ship owners and operators seek to reduce emissions from their operations, LNG is becoming a more popular fuel option. While some LNG bunkers are currently delivered from shore-based trucks to ships berthed alongside, Schulte predicted that LNG sea-based deliveries will eventually dominate supply to merchant and cruise LNG-fueled vessels.

The vessel has been designed with future upgrades in mind, such as a battery hybrid solution or hydrogen retrofit option. “In combination with a battery hybrid solution and shore power, depending on the operation profile, the vessel could operate largely carbon-emissions free,” the company said.