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Conceptual design of an offshore LNG bunkering terminal: a case study of Busan Port

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Abstract

This study proposes the conceptual design of an offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering terminal that would play a critical role in the LNG supply chain for LNG-fueled ship propulsion. The principal functions of the LNG bunkering terminal include importing LNG from LNG carriers, storing it temporarily, and exporting the stored LNG to LNG bunkering shuttles or LNG-fueled ships. One of the critical issues facing cargo operation from a safety point of view is the treatment of boil-off gas (BOG) generated from several sources in the storage systems of the bunkering terminal. Several methods of handling BOG seem feasible. The employment of a pressure vessel with a re-liquefaction system is considered the most effective and safe alternative. As a case study, a conceptual design of Busan Port is carried out by analyzing the statistics of visiting ships, estimating the required LNG consumption, determining the hull structure, and anticipating the design cases. The results obtained include the number of target LNG-fueled ships and LNG bunkering shuttles, LNG demand, capacity, and type of hull structure for the bunkering terminal. To estimate the process specifications and equipment features of the topside system, the BOG generated from several sources is calculated.

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Abbreviations

BOG:

Boil-off gas

BPA:

Busan Port authority

CAPEX:

Capital expenditure

ECAs:

Emission control areas

EEDI:

Energy efficiency design index

GBS:

Gravity-based structure

GHG:

Greenhouse gas

GT:

Gross tonnage

HFO:

Heavy fuel oil

Hs:

Significant wave height

HT LNG:

High-temperature liquefied natural gas

IGC:

International code for the construction and equipment of ships carrying liquefied gases in bulk

IMO:

International maritime organization

LCC:

Life cycle cost

LNGC:

LNG carrier

LNG-BS:

LNG bunkering shuttle

LNG-BT:

LNG bunkering terminal

LNG-RS:

LNG receiving ship

LOA:

Length over all

LT LNG:

Low-temperature liquefied natural gas

MARPOL:

International convention for the prevention of pollution from ships

MEPC:

Marine environment protection committee

NG:

Natural gas

OCIMF:

Oil companies international marine forum

OPEX:

Operating expenditure

PM:

Particulate matters

SOLAS:

International convention for the safety of life at sea

STS:

Ship-to-ship

TEU:

Twenty-foot equivalent unit

VLCC:

Very large crude oil carrier

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Acknowledgment

This research was supported by a grant from the LNG Plant R&D Center funded by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of the Korea government.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Ocean Systems Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 305-701, Republic of Korea

    Sungtae Yun, Jiheon Ryu, Suwon Seo, Sangick Lee, Hyun Chung, Yutaek Seo & Daejun Chang

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  1. Sungtae Yun
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  2. Jiheon Ryu
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  3. Suwon Seo
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  4. Sangick Lee
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  5. Hyun Chung
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  6. Yutaek Seo
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  7. Daejun Chang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daejun Chang.

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Yun, S., Ryu, J., Seo, S. et al. Conceptual design of an offshore LNG bunkering terminal: a case study of Busan Port. J Mar Sci Technol 20, 226–237 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00773-014-0266-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00773-014-0266-1

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