Application of LNG as Fuel for Danube Navigation

Juha Schweighofer

via donau – Österreichische Wasserstraßen GmbH

Contents• LDS project

• Legislation and rules

• Technical considerations – case studies

• Fuel consumption and cruising range

• Development needs

LDS Project• LDS = LNG propulsion systems for Danube navigation

• Feasibilty study (2010 – 2011)

• Partners:– Technical University Vienna (Coordinator: Prof. Pucher)– Salzburg AG – via donau – Österreichische Wasserstraßen GmbH

• Call: Neue Energien 2020

• Funding: Klimafonds (Austrian Climate Fund)

Why LNG? (1)

CO2: -10% up to -25%SOX: -100%

Why LNG? (2)

LNG significantly cheaper than marine gas oil (MGO)

Pric

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Taxation of fuels• Regulated by Directive 2003/96/EC

• Recommendation:– Tax free energy products for commercial aviation and navigation– Member states should have the possibilty to limit the current

exemptions

• Article 15– Total or partial exemptions– Energy products for commercial inland navigation– Natural gas

• Austria:– Mineralölsteuergesetz 1995 (Version 31.12.2009)– § 4. (1) Exemption from mineral oil tax– Mineral oil and fuels for commercial navigation on Danube, (Lake

Constance, Neusiedler See)

Technical regulations

• Inland waterway vessels– Regulated by Directive 2006/87/EC– Fuels with flash point > 55 °C – For LNG no regulations– Equivalent safety and deviations Article 2.19

• ADN regulations:– Transportation of dangerous goods– Design and construction included– Further basis for extended technical regulations – Qualification of staff when LNG used?

Technical regulations

• Seagoing vessels– Regulated IMO (International Maritime Organisation)– International Gas Carrier (IGC) Code: Construction and equipment of

vessels for the transport of liquid gasses– IGF (International Gas as Ship Fuel) Interim Guideline in force since

2009– IGF Code under development: enforcement 2014 with SOLAS 2014

• Germanischer Lloyd– Acknowledged calssification society for inland waterway vessels– Guidelines for the Use of Gas as Fuel for Ships, in force since 2010– Further basis for elaboration on extended technical regulations for

inland waterway vessels using LNG as fuel

Transhipment in Austrian ports 2010

Linz voestalpine

Commodities transported on the Austrian Danube 2010

Ore and metal waste

Case studies• Iron ore transport to Linz (Voest)• Heavy cargo => free space in cargo hold• Liner service => little effort in setting up proper LNG

infrastructure• VOEST: strong industrial enterprise

– Long term contract possible => investment security

• Concepts considered:– Coupled unit: Rotterdam – Linz – Rotterdam (ca. 3000km)– Pusher + 4 lighter: Linz – Izmail – Linz (ca. 4000km)– Bulk cargo coupled unit: Passau – Vidin – Passau (ca. 3000km)

• Tanks: mobile (one tank: 15 m3 LNG)

Vessel data

VesselL B TMax TØ H TØ tdwMax tdwØ PBMax

[m] [m] [m] [m] [m] [t] [t] [kW]

Pusher A 34.0

11.0 1.9 2.8 1.9 2000

Pusher B 34.0

11.0 1.9 2.8 1.9 3750

MCV Steinklasse 95 11.4 2.7 1.9 3.2 1.9 2000 1060 1300

Lighter Europe IIB

76.5

11.0 2.7 1.9 3.2 1.9 1717 1060

Vessel concept 1

Positive:• Simple and robust solution • Protected tank and piping• Sufficent distance to accommodation and ignition sources

Negative:• Loss of cargo space• Ventilation and gas detection• Location of relieve valves for blow-off

Cofferdam

Load line for full load

Vessel concept 2

Further investigations needed:Flexible piping between pusher and lighter

Tank volumeRound trip with 50% substitution of MGO by LNG Energy demand LNG demand LNG volume

Available LNG-tank volume

[kWh] [t] [m3] [m3]a. 2000 kW pusher + 4 lighter Linz - Izmail 199172 22,5 53,6 90a. 2000 kW pusher + 4 lighter Izmail - Linz 378362 42,8 101,8 90b. 3750 kW pusher + 4 lighter Linz - Izmail 299736 33,9 80,6 90b. 3750 kW pusher + 4 lighter Izmail - Linz 553952 62,6 149,0 90c. Coupled unit (MCV + 1 lighter) Passau - Vidin 73520 8,3 19,8 30c. Coupled unit (MCV + 1 lighter) Vidin - Passau 126612 14,3 34,1 30d. Coupled unit Rotterdam - Linz - Rotterdam 25,2 60,0 30

• Coupled unit and pushed convoy with 2000 kW engine power => half a round trip

• Pushed convoy with 3750 kW engine power: => upstream one stop necessary

Deadweight loss

Case considered Weight/tank

Additional weight of fuel

reducing deadweight

Additional weight of

converted ship structure

Loss in deadweight

Loss in deadweight referred to maximum capacity

Loss in deadweight referred to average

utilisation of vessel

[t] [t] [t] [t] [%] [%]a. 2000 kW pusher + 4 lighter Linz - Izmail - Linz 6 37,8 10,5 84,3 1,2 2,0b. 3750 kW pusher + 4 lighter Linz - Izmail - Linz 6 37,8 10,5 84,3 1,2 2,0c. Coupled unit Passau - Vidin - Passau 6 1 10,5 23,5 0,6 1,1d. Coupled unit Rotterdam - Linz - Rotterdam 6 1 10,5 23,5 0,6 1,1

• For coupled unit negligible!

• For pushed convoy slightly higher, but still very small!

Summary (1)

• Taxation similar to oil products used as fuel for IWT

• Technical regulations not available yet=> Development for inland waterway vessels necessary

• Based on regulations for seagoing vessels and ADN• Education and training of staff for operation and

maintenance of gas-fuelled vessels to be considered• Follow developments in the Netherlands• Timeframe 5 years

• Technically feasible to use LNG as fuel

Summary (2)

• Infrastructure is existing (mobile solutions)

• Heavy cargo: no loss in cargo carrying capacity

• 50% substitution of marine gas oil by LNG: half a round trip possibe

• 100% LNG: stops for bunkering necessary

• Proposal for pilot project: – Transport of heavy bulk cargo (iron ore) with coupled unit

Dr. Juha Schweighofervia donau – Österreichische Wasserstraßen-Gesellschaft mbH

A-1220 Wien, Donau-City-Straße 1Tel +43 50 4321 1624, Fax +43 50 4321 1050juha.schweighofer@via-donau.org, www.via-donau.org

Simple, economical, green – LNG!