Sign up
Log in Sign up
Mon 20 Oct 2014, 15:01 GMT

Floating LNG power plant christened 'Bumblebee'


Vessel is to supply cruise ships with LNG during layovers at Hamburg.

The eco-friendly delivery vessel, which up until now has been referred to as the LNG Hybrid Barge, was christened the Hummel (or 'Bumblebee' in English) on Saturday, October 19, at Grasbrook Kai, Hafencity, located near Hamburg Cruise Center at the port of Hamburg.

Just two years after the start of cooperation between Becker Marine Systems GmbH & Co. KG - the company responsible for developing and operating the Hummel - and AIDA Cruises, the vessel arrived in Hamburg on October 4, 2014.

The technical launch of the new floating liquefied gas (LNG) power plant took place in Komárno, Slovakia on September 5. It then made a 1,500-kilometre, three-week trip up the Danube, Main and Rhine rivers and the North Sea to the Elbe before arriving in Hamburg.

Further work and testing of the first German seagoing vessel to employ LNG technology then took place at the Blohm + Voss shipyard.

Speaking at the christening, Dirk Lehmann and Henning Kuhlmann, both managing directors of Becker Marine Systems, are quoted as saying: "The LNG Hybrid Barge will contribute towards making the air in Hamburg significantly cleaner."

As a result of the launch of the new floating liquefied power plant, cruise ships will in future be supplied with LNG during their layovers at port.

This will enable the heavy-fuel-oil-powered generators on ships to be switched off during layovers at port and will result in lower emissions and particulates compared to marine diesel fuel. Sulphur oxides and soot particles will no longer be emitted, the emission of nitrogen oxides will be reduced by up to 80% and carbon dioxide by 30%, according to Becker Marine Systems.

Also during the christening, the first test connection was carried out with AIDA Cruises' AIDAsol cruise ship. It is planned that at the start of the next cruise season in spring 2015, the Hummel will supply the AIDAsol at its home port of Hamburg.

The Hummel is 77 metres long and 11 metres wide and equipped with five generators with an overall output of 7.5 megawatts (MW), or 50/60 hertz (Hz). These generators are the first marine-classified LNG Caterpillar engines to be delivered to customers.

Dr. Monika Griefahn, Chief Sustainability Officer at AIDA Cruises, was named godmother of the Hummel at the christening.

Image: The LNG Hybrid Barge, christened the Hummel (or 'Bumblebee' in English).

Bunkering vessel   Cruise ship   LNG   Germany  Hamburg (DE) 
American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) logo. ABS introduces nuclear-ready notation for marine and offshore assets  

The classification society has released what it describes as an industry-first notation to support future nuclear conversion of vessels and offshore assets.
AiP handover ceremony for NEXTGEN Energy Hub (NGEH) design. ABS grants approval in principle for Seatrium’s NEXTGEN Energy Hub design  

The hub concept integrates ammonia bunkering, power generation and electric vessel charging in a single unit.
Jumbo Maritime crew aboard vessel. Jumbo orders two methanol-ready L-Class heavy lift vessels from Dajin Heavy Industry  

Dutch heavy lift specialist Jumbo signs newbuilding contract for two 25,000-dwt vessels.
China flag. Zhoushan completes first bonded bunker operation at Majishan port area  

The operation marks full fuel supply coverage across all general cargo terminals in Zhoushan's port system.
US dollar banknotes. Port of Long Beach launches $1m methanol bunkering challenge for oceangoing vessels  

A $1m prize aims to kick-start commercial methanol bunkering at one of North America's busiest ports.
Core Power, Athlos Energy, Deon Policy Institute and ABS logos. Greece floating nuclear study finds no fundamental barriers to implementation  

A PESTLE assessment of floating nuclear power plants in Greece identifies framework gaps, not feasibility barriers.
Northern Pathliner alongside Bergen LNG vessel. Molgas completes LNG cool-down and bunkering for Northern Pathliner at Northern Lights terminal in Norway  

Operation carried out at Øygarden facility, with K Line and Integr8 Fuels in the supply chain.
Rendering of a G2 Ocean OHGC vessel. G2 Ocean expands fleet with six future-fuel ready gantry crane vessels  

Open hatch specialist adds vessels and jet sail technology as part of a broad fleet renewal programme.
CMA CGM Adventure vessel at Port of Mombasa. LNG-powered CMA CGM Adventure makes first call at the Port of Mombasa  

Kenya Ports Authority receives its first large LNG-fuelled container vessel.
Liam Blackmore, Lloyd's Register. Maritime trio shapes IMO safety guidelines for ammonia as marine fuel  

Real-world operational experience feeds directly into new IMO ammonia fuel safety framework.




   Fuels & Propulsion

Ammonia B100 B24 B30 Bio-LNG/LBM Biofuel Biogas Biomethanol Dual-fuel E-fuel E-methane/e-NG Electric Ethanol FAME Green hydrogen Green/e-ammonia HVO Hydrogen LNG LPG Lubes Methanol MGO Nuclear UCOME ULSFO VLSFO Wind power



 Recommended