Reporter Zhang Xianghui

Although LNG powered ship started late in China, the development speed has accelerated in recent years. Recently, China Classi fi cation Society (CCS) held the review meeting of the Rules for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Fuel Filling Ships in Wuhan, the Rule will be of fi cially released in September 2015, and will become the fi rst rule for LNG fi lling ships in the world. It can be said that in the formulation of rules for LNG powered ships, in terms of either technology or safety, CCS has played the role of main force and is providing support for the robust development of LNG powered ships.

Compared with onshore LNG filling technology which is relatively mature, floating LNG filling technology is still at the fledgling stage. The big challenge is how to apply and promote fl oating LNG fi lling by combining the shore LNG fi lling technology and safety ideology with the characteristics of application on water.

In terms of marine LNG fi lling, there is not much overseas experience for reference. Under the condition that there is no safety and technical standards for LGN fuel fi lling ships in the world, CCS research group face directly the difficulties and are courageous to innovate and conduct qualitative and quantitative risk analysis and research of LNG fi lling ship and the operation process, and proposed the corresponding risk control measures and technical requirements. This is a technical innovation in the world.

According to the characteristics of LNG fuel fi lling ship,in the process of rule development, CCS research group is in close contact with the industry and put forward regulations for general arrangement, containment system,filling system, power system, safety system, electrical equipment, fire-fighting, etc., to meet the safety control requirements for LNG fuel filling ships. Throughout the whole process of rule research and development,CCS kept in close contact with the industry to carry out research jointly, made research as the basis, grasped the technical core and in the end produced the rule which is suitable for and leads the development in China of LNG fi lling on water.

According to the introduction of Luo Xiaofeng, the Director of CCS Wuhan Rules Institute, this Rule will on one hand provide technical guidance and service to clients,on the other hand it will drive the technical progress of the industry, enhance the international competitiveness of Chinese marine LNG technology, promote robust and safe development of LNG application on water, improve CCS" capability to provide classi fi cation service to better serve the demands for cleaner marine LNG fuel and lead LNG to develop in the right direction. At the same time, the Rule is positive to implement the requirements of the “Guidelines of the Ministry of Transport for the Promotion of Lique fi ed Natural Gas Application in Water Transportation Industry” and to promote the safety and development of LNG fuel fi lling on water in China.