World's First LPG-Fueled Very Large Gas Carrier Completes Sea Trials

Photo courtesy Wartsila

The world’s first liquefied petroleum gas-powered Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC) has successful complete sea trials and is readying for its return to service.

The ‘BW Gemini’, built in 2015, is owned and operated by BW LPG, a company registered at Oslo stock exchange. The vessel was retrofitted this year with Wärtsilä’s ground-breaking LPG Fuel Supply technology. This is the first of 12 BW LPG ships to be retrofitted for operating on LPG fuel with the Wärtsilä system.

The use of LPG as fuel reduces emissions of sulphur oxides (SOx) by some 97 percent, and is viewed as being an important step towards the decarbonization of shipping.

“LPG is powering this vessel while protecting the environment, and we look forward to demonstrating its benefits to the industry as shipping prepares for a future with zero-carbon propulsion. BW LPG thanks Wärtsilä for its collaboration on this industry-leading innovation, and for sharing our vision of achieving sustainability through cleaner energy,” says Pontus Berg, Executive Vice President, Technical and Operation.

The Wärtsilä scope in the project included the system engineering, the ship design for the conversion project, two 930 m3 fuel tanks with the pumps and fuel system, the pump skids, and the cargo handling system.

“World firsts are always exciting and we congratulate BW LPG on their commitment to pursuing the adoption of LPG as a long-term viable and sustainable marine fuel. The project highlights once again Wärtsilä’s leading position in bringing innovative fuel gas solutions, along with the customer benefits they offer, to the market,” says Kjell Ove Ulstein, Director of Sales and Marketing at Wärtsilä.