Ulsan Port Authority’s port cleaning ship has been successfully operating as the first LNG-fueled public service vessel run by the government.
Requirements
The Ulsan Port Authority is in charge of the Port of Ulsan, one of the key strategic ports in South Korea which sees large cargo volume and maritime traffic daily.
To ensure the required cleanliness of the port, the Ulsan Port Authority runs a multipurpose vessel, with the main task of delivering operational functionality.
But in addition to operating the vessel for operational tasks, the Ulsan Port Authority also relies on operating the ship in case of emergency life saving and disaster prevention when maritime accidents take place.
In such cases, it is vital for the port authorities to have reliable vessels and sustainable fuel consumption that would allow them to act fast. In some cases, the Port Authority staff needs to travel long distances to help triage the hazards and provide immediate assistance, which is when fuel availability is crucial.
By adopting Lattice Pressure Vessel, the Ulsan port cleaning ship can carry an additional 50% of fuel and it is capable of long-distance operation in case of emergency.
Challenge
With previous cylinder-base tanks, the Ulsan Port Authority had challenges overcoming the constraints for fuel storage. To successfully mount a cylinder-type pressure vessel with a fixed ratio of width, height and length, sufficient space must be secured, which used to put a significant drag on the operational efficiency of the Ulsan Port Authority vessels, diminishing its availability at times when it is needed the most, but also for day-to-day tasks.
Implementation and Benefits
The LPV technology of LATTICE Technology is an ideal solution for fuel LNG storage, decreasing the operational costs and simplifying fuel management process. Its technical readiness was proven by building and testing of four prototype tanks and approval from six classification societies.
By securing its first project (Ulsan Cleaning Ship) in May 2018, the LPV successfully entered into the extremely conservative LNG tank market. Successfully operated since July 2019.
Now, with Lattice Pressure Vessels installed, Ulsan Port Authority can easily serve long distance travels in emergency cases without being constrained by fuel storage space utilization. The Ulsan Port Authority thus has greater availability to offer in times of need.
What Ulsan Port Authority Sees as Beneficial
There is no greater advantage than the advantage of being able to make the most of the space on the ship. The function as a pressure vessel is, of course, basic and faithful to this is the same as the existing cylinder type.
— Chief Engineer of Cheong-hwa 2 ho, Dongwook Kim
Repetition of the same pattern structure is an important factor to increase productivity. And this is also a factor that facilitates the enlargement of the LPV. When LPV gains performance in the large tank market, the game in the energy market will change.
— Former president of NK, Haeju Jang
