How this Genius Invention Revolutionized Transport of Gas on Gigantic Ships

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Liquified Natural Gas

Gas may be cooled to become a liquid through condensation, making it easier and safer to store aboard vessels and be shipped overseas. Liquified Natural Gas has a cryogenic temperature of 162 degrees Celsius while only taking up about 1/600th of the volume of natural gas in the gaseous state.

The first commercial ship-to-ship transfer of an LNG was done in 2007 at the Flotta facility. There, 132,000m³ of LNG were passed between two vessels named Excalibur and Excelsior. Another test was done by a Belgian gas tanker owner in the Gulf of Mexico, transferring LNG from a conventional LNG carrier to an LNG regasification vessel.

There have also been tests regarding the use of LNGs in aircraft. For example, the Tupolev Tu-155 was tested on LNGs, but the low specific energy of the gas compared to conventional fuels gave it a distinct disadvantage for flight applications.

Nevertheless, the future looks bright for LNGs’ application in maritime industries.