Technical innovation of LNG transportation at sea in LNG chain

Technologies concerning LNG carrier has been developed more than 50 years since 1950's. About 240 LNG carriers are in operation in 2007 and have an excellent long record of safety and stable LNG transportation at sea since 1959. In Japan, successful safety LNG transportation has been continued since the first import from Alaska in 1969 and 63 million tons LNG are imported in FY2006. Under huge demand of LNG, more than 350 LNG carriers including under construction shall shoulder important role of safety and economical LNG transportation around 2010. Recently, several innovative technologies about LNG carriers have been developed and designed to modern LNG carriers. As a viewpoint of LNG buyer, Charterer and Owner of LNG carrier, this review highlights these technologies as follows. LNG containment systems such as Moss, SPB and Membrane, new propulsion systems such as slow-speed diesel driven with natural gas reliquefaction, medium-speed dual fuel diesel generator with electric motor and high efficient steam turbine, large-scale LNG carrier up to 260,000m3 of LNG tank capacity, condition assessment program, natural gas fuel ship in EU and “LNG FPSO”.