South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean has selected Norway-based TMC Compressors to deliver the complete marine compressed air system to three LNG carriers the Korean shipbuilder is constructing for an undisclosed Asian shipowner.
TMC’s scope of supply consists of a complete marine compressed air system, including control and service air compressors plus nitrogen feed air compressors, to each of the three vessels. The marine compressed air system is designed to allow the vessel crew to maintain it themselves.
TMC will manufacture the equipment in Europe and ship it to Hanwha Ocean in South Korea. TMC has not disclosed the value of the contract.
The three LNG carriers will each have a capacity of 174,000 cubic metres LNG.
As early as March this year, Hanwha Ocean has commissioned TMC to supply marine compressed air systems for four 174,000 cubic meter LNG carriers under construction. Not long ago, TMC was also awarded a contract to supply marine air lubrication system (ALS) compressors for four 174,000 cubic meter LNG carriers of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries.
It is understood that the marine compressed air system utilizes air bubbles to reduce the resistance between the ship’s hull and seawater, and is an important piece of equipment for improving the energy efficiency of ships. By distributing air bubbles over the entire surface of the hull, the frictional resistance acting on the hull can be reduced, which has an energy-saving effect. The lower the air consumption, the lower the speed required for the compressor in order to reduce power consumption. Also, exhaust emissions associated with fuel consumption are significantly reduced.
