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SINGAPORE SHIPREPAIRING, SHIPBUILDING & OFFSHORE INDUSTRIES DIRECTORY 2019/2020
As the cleanest fossil fuel, natural gas is gaining traction as an energy source in our more eco-conscious world. Much of the growth is coming from Asia. While North Asia has been the main source of demand for the past decade – with Japan, China and South Korea being the top three LNG importers – demand from South and Southeast Asia is strengthening.
Singapore is leveraging on its strategic location and strong reputation to be a trading and servicing hub for LNG for the region. With their strong track record in LNG vessel repair and experience in LNG conversion and proven cryogenic expertise, Singapore yards are ideally placed to develop and bene t from new solutions across the entire gas value chain.
Singapore now tops the global list for LNG carrier repair and upgrading. In 2017, it undertook eight conversion projects. Particularly noteworthy was Golar LNG‘s Hilli Episeyo, the world’s rst oating LNG vessel (FLNGV) conversion project. Formerly a 1975-built Moss LNG carrier, it was converted to an FLNGV at Keppel Shipyard. This promises to be a game changer as it can be completed faster and cheaper than newbuilds, without compromising on safety and processing capabilities.
Riding the Green Tech Wave
Changes in IMO regulations aimed at protecting the environment have also given shiprepair yards an added boost. From 2020, the IMO will limit the sulphur content in marine fuel to 0.5%, from 3.5% currently. Ships failing to comply could lose their international certi cation, preventing them from operating as commercial trading vessels.
In order to comply with the requirement, existing ships have a number of options — to use the more expensive distillate fuel, opt for an ultra-low-sulphur blended fuels now emerging on the market, or t a scrubber to take the sulphur out of funnel emissions.
As scrubbers provide the shortest payback period on investment, it is the industry’s favourite option .Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems
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