Kobe Steel receives order for screw compressors for LNG carrier

The compressors will be installed in an LNG carrier to be owned by a 50/50 joint venture between Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Co., Ltd. (or MOL) and Itochu Corporation for Uniper Global Commodities SE, a subsidiary of Uniper SE, Europe’s one of largest power and gas companies. Uniper Global Commodities will charter the new carrier for 20 years. Plans call for Kobe Steel to deliver the compressors in August 2017 to South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd., which is constructing the vessel.

The market size of nonstandard compressors for marine dual fuel engines is forecast to total over 20 billion yen for the coming five years, according to Kobe Steel. Kobe Steel aims to gain over 50 percent of the market by 2020.

Nonstandard compressors for marine dual fuel engines are generally used to compress vaporized LNG, namely boil-off gas (BOG), which is then sent to the engines. To date, marine dual fuel engines have been of the middle speed, four-stroke type and driven predominantly by low gas pressure, and the compressors for these engines have only been centrifugal compressors, which excel at low-pressure compression. However, in recent years due to the need to save energy in ship operation and comply with stricter environmental regulations, dual fuel, low speed, two stroke engines that offer high efficiency with a 10-percent improvement in fuel consumption have entered the market. In the future, this type of engine will become the mainstream as its adoption is being considered for nearly all new vessels.

As marine dual fuel, low speed, two-stroke engines require relatively high gas pressure, centrifugal compressors are less efficient. These engines need to have their fuel gas (FG) pressure controlled within the allowable level of the load percentage of the engines. Screw compressors are highly suitable for these engines as they can keep pace with load fluctuations and operate most efficiently in the medium- to high-pressure range. Owing to this feature, screw compressors have been adopted for use with marine dual fuel engines for the first time.

Kobe Steel has received an additional order for one reciprocating compressor for BOG reliquefaction, which will be installed in the same vessel.

Over 100 LNG carriers have been constructed in the three years from 2013 to 2015. Although the shipbuilding boom has settled slightly due to the fall in raw material prices and the downturn in the world economy, demand remains high for LNG and the market for this clean fuel is expected to grow in the future.

Kobe Steel is the only company in the world that manufactures all three main types of compressors: screw, reciprocating and centrifugal. In particular, Kobe Steel estimates that it has the world’s top share of the market for screw compressors. Its extensive supply record and the outstanding performance of its compressors were factors that contributed to the order for the two screw compressors.

Under Kobe Steel’s Fiscal 2016-2020 Group Medium-Term Management Plan, the company’s Machinery Business has positioned nonstandard screw compressors and other products for LNG vessels as an area of focus. The Machinery Business plans to expand business and increase sales in this field.

Outside of heavy oil as a conventional fuel, these engines can also use natural gas. Especially in LNG carriers where BOG must be treated, dual fuel engines are used in nearly all cases.

The vessel under construction is a large LNG carrier. The vessel will have a length of 297.9 meters, a breadth of 47.9 meters and a cargo tank capacity of 180,000 cubic meters. The vessel will enter service in 2018. The MOL-Itochu joint venture will manage the new carrier, which will transport LNG from a shale gas liquefying plant in North America to Europe and other destinations around the world.