«Problems of economics and management of oil and gas complex»

Current state and classification of the global LNG carrier fleet

UDC: 629.5:62-621.2:62-404
DOI: -

Authors:

¹ NIIgazeconomika, Moscow, Russia

Keywords: LNG shipping, carrier, fleet structure, age, service life, cargo capacity, containment system, propulsion system, class

Annotation:

Current sharp structural changes in the global gas market increase the relevance of liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipping. Corresponding LNG carrier fleet demand growth increases the uncertainty of the prospects for the development of this sector and requires updating its analysis. The authors of the article analyzed and systematized the initial data on the existing global LNG carrier fleet, including their key parameters and typological aspects. An estimation of its current state is given. The structure of the LNG carrier fleet according to their status is assessed. The average age, service life before its retirement (scrap) as well as cargo capacity are identified. The existing standard designs of containment and propulsion system are described. Due to the unavailability of a generally accepted classification, an approach to the unified global LNG vessel fleet classes list is proposed, taking into account their most important factors, such as cargo capacity and propulsion system.

Bibliography:

1. Koledova T.A. Mirovoy rynok morskikh transportnykh sudov // Morskoy vestn. – 2007. – № 3(23). – S. 29–37.
2. Vovk V.S., Grechko A.G., Novikov A.I. Mirovoy flot transportnykh sudov dlya perevozok SPG // Gazovaya prom-st'. – 2011. – № S(668). – S. 34–40.
3. Vorob'ev A.M. Mirovoy flot tankerov SPG v usloviyakh sovremennogo rynka prirodnogo gaza // Gazovaya prom-st'. – 2011. – № S(668). – S. 41–43.
4. Kostylev I.I., Evdokimov G.P. Razvitie gazovozov szhizhennogo prirodnogo gaza dlya udovletvoreniya potrebnostey v nem mirovogo rynka. Rossiyskie proekty szhizhennogo prirodnogo gaza // Vestn. gos. un-ta morskogo i rechnogo flota im. adm. S.O. Makarova. – 2016. – № 6(40). – S. 42–57. – DOI: 10.21821/2309-5180-2016-8-6-42-57
5. Gonzalez-Gutierrez C., Perez-Labajos C.A. Typology of the Gas Carrier Fleet // J. of Maritime Research. – 2017. – Vol. 14, Issue 1. – P. 97–103.
6. Gonzalez-Gutierrez C., Perez-Labajos C.A. Technical structure of the Gas carrier fleet in 2019 // J. of Maritime Research. – 2020. – Vol. 17, Issue 1. – P. 86–92.
7. Options and Evaluations on Propulsion Systems of LNG Carriers / Tu Huan, Fan Hongjun, Lei Wei, Zhou Guoqiang // Propulsion Systems. – 2019. – P. 1–20. – DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.82154
8. Amendments to the International Code for The Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code) // Cargo Containment. – Int. Maritime Organization, 2014. – Chapter 4, Part A. – URL: https://www.imorules.com/GUID-D2C12166-705B-49B8-8E56-CEF89537F639.html (data obrashcheniya 17.05.2023).
9. LR-RU-008. Rules and Regulations for the Construction and Classification of Ships for the Carriage of Liquefied Gases in Bulk. – Lloyd’s Register Group Services Limited, 2022. – URL: https://www.lr.org/en/rules-and-regulations-for-ships-for-the-carriage-of-liquefied-gases (data obrashcheniya 17.05.2023).
10. GIIGNL Annual Report. – Groupe Int. des Importateurs de Gaz Naturel Liquéfié, 2024. – URL: https://giignl.org/giignl-releases-2024-annual-report/ (data obrashcheniya 03.06.2024).
11. IGU World LNG Report. – Int. Gas Union, 2024. – URL: https://www.igu.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IGU2024-LNG-Report_Final_LR.pdf (data obrashcheniya 26.06.2024).
12. MarineTraffic: Global Ship Tracking Intelligence. – URL: https://www.marinetraffic.com/ (data obrashcheniya 07.11.2023).
13. Sayt "Fleetmon". Live AIS Vessel Tracker with Ship and Port Database. – URL: https://www.fleetmon.com/ (data obrashcheniya 07.11.2023).
14. Sayt "China Shipbuilding". – URL: http://chinashipbuilding.cn/ (data obrashcheniya 07.11.2023).
15. Sayt "Ship Vault". Maritime Vessel Database. – URL: https://www.shipvault.com/ (data obrashcheniya 07.11.2023).
16. Sayt "Class NK". Register of Ships. – URL: https://www.classnk.or.jp/register/regships/regships.aspx/ (data obrashcheniya 07.11.2023).
17. Sayt "ShipSpotting.com". Ship Photos, Information, Videos and Ship Tracker. – URL: https://www.shipspotting.com/ (data obrashcheniya 07.11.2023).
18. Matsukura S. LNG Transportation Market Trends – FSRU as Europe’s Way Out of Russia. – The Institute of Energy Economics, Japan, 2022. – URL: https://eneken.ieej.or.jp/data/10693.pdf (data obrashcheniya 07.11.2023).
19. A Comparative Techno-Economic Analysis of TFDE, ME-GI and X-DF Propulsion Systems for LNG Carriers. Case study for Alternative Multi-Annual Operational Profiles / N. Kissas, C. Papaleonidas, D. Fouflias, D.V. Lyridis // 27th Annual Conf. of the Int. Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), Athens, Greece, June 25–28, 2019.
20. Golubev R.O. Tendentsii razvitiya energetiki super-SPG-tankerov // Molodoy uchenyy. – 2018. – № 18(204). – S. 50–54.
21. Golubev R.O. Perspektivy ispol'zovaniya malooborotnykh glavnykh dvigateley na bol'shikh standartnykh SPG-tankerakh // Tekhnika. Tekhnologii. Inzheneriya. – 2018. – № 3(9). – S. 14–17.
22. Gonzalez-Gutierrez C., Perez-Labajos C.A. Empirical fuel consumption assessment for two-strokes dual fuel engines on LNG Carriers // J. of Maritime Research. – 2018. – Vol. 15, Issue 1. – P. 80–85.
23. An empirical analysis on the operational profile of liquefied natural gas carriers with steam propulsion plants / C. Gonzalez-Gutierrez, S. Suárez de la Fuente, J.-M. Bonello, R. Bucknall // J. of Navigation. – 2021. – Vol. 74, Issue 2. – P. 273–292. – DOI: 10.1017/S0373463320000612
24. Bonello J.-M., Gonzalez-Gutierrez C., Suárez de la Fuente S. Operational and Energy Use Profile Characterisation of LNG Carriers with DFDE Propulsion Plants // RINA Full Scale Ship Performance Conf., London, February 10–11, 2021. – URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/351450757_Operational_and_Energy_Use_Profile_Characterisation_of_LNG_Carriers_with_DFDE_Propulsion_Plants
25. Goryachev A.A., Shevyrenkov M.Yu. Mirovaya gazovaya model' // Problemy ekonomiki i upravleniya neftegazovym kompleksom. – 2023. – № 5(221). – S. 49–60. – DOI: 10.33285/1999-6942-2023-5(221)-49-60