When delivered in May 2016 the Indonesian-flagged carrier, ordered by China International Marine Containers (CIMC) Enrik SJZ Gas, will be used by Indonesian state-owned energy firm Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PT PLN) to transport CNG from Gresik in East Java to a power station on the Indonesian island of Lombok, where use of pipelines is unfeasible.
Designed by CIMC Oric,, the vessel will feature a 9-cylinder Wärtsilä 34DF dual-fuel main engine operating primarily on gas, with a fully integrated Wärtsilä controlled pitch propeller and gearbox.
The order was one of two CNG carrier orders for PT PLN with the other placed at Qingdao Wuchuan Heavy Industry shipyard. However, some reports indicate that the latter may not have been concluded.
“This first ever CNG carrier to be built is indicative of the growing importance of natural gas as a fuel for both land based and marine applications. We are proud to have been selected to provide the propulsion system for this ship, which is designed with efficiency and sustainability as the main criteria," says Sanjay Verma, area sales director, Wärtsilä Ship Power.
The vessel will also be the first dual-fuel powered vessel in the Indonesian shipowning fleet.
"We expect that this CNG carrier will be a model for other Indonesian owners as the government's policy is to promote energy efficient and cleaner sea transportation through the use of gas fuelled engines. Wärtsilä has always been at the forefront of making it possible for gas to be utilised as a marine fuel, and has tremendous experience and expertise in this area," said Suryadi Mardjoeki, head of oil-based fuels and gas division at PLN.
CNG carriers have been on the drawing board for well over a decade, however, despite a number of designs and talks of possible orders it has taken a long time for a concept to come for fruition.
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