Qatargas and collaborators on Tuesday announced completing the second phase of main engine gas injection system trials on Nakilat-owned Q-Max Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) ship ‘Rasheeda’ successfully.
A report by the official Qatar News Agency (QNA) said the trials involved commissioning Rasheeda’s gas burning MEGI system. The Qatar Petroleum-sponsored project cost stakeholders over $30mn.
Qatargas – the world’s top LNG producer, RasGas and Qatar Stock Exchange-listed shipping company Nakilat collaborated on the project that will use the pioneering M-Type Electronically Controlled – Gas Injection (MEGI) technology in maritime propulsion.
“The protection of the environment is a deeply held value within Qatar Petroleum and we are very encouraged by the success of this important project. I would like to convey our sincere appreciation to the project’s stakeholders who have worked so hard to help fulfil this vision,” Qatar Petroleum president and chief executive officer Saad Sherida al-Kaabi, said.
Nakilat built the Rasheeda vessel in 2010. Project collaborators installed the MEGI system on the vessel at the Erhama bin Jaber Al Jalahma shipyard in Qatar in June 2015.
“Qatargas is pleased with the safe and successful commissioning of Rasheeda’s MEGI system which would not have been possible without the close collaboration between the Charterers, the vessel Owner, the vessel Operator, the engine manufacturer and the equipment suppliers,” Qatargas’ chief executive officer Khalid bin Khalifa Al-Thani said.
“The project’s success represents a significant milestone in our efforts to proactively meet upcoming environmental regulations, honouring our commitment to ensure the highest environmental standards and deliver efficient operations on behalf of our shareholders.
Through the implementation and testing of new technologies such as MEGI we show our continued commitment to build a world-class, pace-setting, premier organisation – one that our people and our country are proud of.”
The collaborators said the system will further undergo extensive technical and commercial evaluation to determine its potential for installation on the other vessels that are part of the Qatari Q-Fleet.
The Qatar fleet comprises 14 Q-Max and 31 Q-Flex large LNG carriers which all use dual Man Diesel Turbo’s (MDT) S70-ME low speed diesel engines for propulsion.
