Spanish operator Grupo Ibaizabal (Ibaizabal) is a decarbonisation pioneer in the LNG bunkering vessel segment. The company’s new 18,600 m3 LNG bunkering vessel will be powered by Wärtsilä 25DF dual-fuel engines with Wärtsilä’s NextDF technology. NextDF dramatically reduces methane slip from engines that use LNG as fuel.
Methane slip is the term used to describe the small amount of methane that doesn’t burn in engines that use LNG as fuel and escapes with the exhaust gases instead. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas. Ibaizabal wants to reduce methane slip from its fleet because vessels with lower methane slip are more attractive to charterers. Reducing methane emissions also makes it easier to secure financing for newbuild vessels.
Reducing methane slip lowers the risk of incurring financial penalties under regulations such as FuelEU Maritime. Ibaizabal has secured charters from a major global energy company as a direct result of the low methane slip level of its new LNG bunkering vessel.
“Customershave put their trust in us because of our pioneering approach to vessel design, which prioritises low emissions and high operational flexibility. LNG bunkering vessels have an important role to play in supporting the decarbonisation of shipping because LNG is a key transitional energy source for the maritime industry.”
Jose Maria Torre, Fleet Director, Grupo Ibaizabal
Ibaizabal wanted to make sure that the new LNG bunkering vessel design would use the best available technology in terms of emission reduction, efficiency and reliability. Vessel flexibility was also an important requirement. Ibaizabal needed the bunkering vessel to be compatible with a wide range of receiving vessels and to be able to operate in and out of many different bunkering terminals.
To meet these requirements, Ibaizabal was looking for an engine technology that can achieve methane slip levels below the FuelEU Maritime default value for dual-fuel medium-speed engines of 3.1%. The ability to operate with a methane slip level below this value has significant financial benefits.
Ibaizabal and Wärtsilä collaborated on the project from the early stages of the LNG bunkering vessel design process. This close collaboration was very important in convincing the shipyard and potential charterers that the Wärtsilä 25 with NextDF was the correct choice.
“Wärtsilä can offer guarantees for engine performance, especially methane slip reduction. These guarantees were backed up by hard data. For us, it was also important that the Wärtsilä 25DF could operate from 0 to 100% load in gas mode, which minimises the use of diesel fuel. Our open and transparent relationship with Wärtsilä made it much easier to convince the shipyard and charterers that this technology was the right way forward.”
Jose Maria Torre, Fleet Director, Grupo Ibaizabal
The results of the engine factory acceptance test (FAT), attended by the charterers, exceeded expectations. The Wärtsilä 25DF engines with NextDF achieved an exhaust methane slip level of 0.9%, which is far below the Fuel EU Maritime default value of 3.1%. The tests also showed that the consumption of diesel pilot fuel was 30% lower than the initial indication provided by Wärtsilä.
“Our charterers are very satisfied with the engine performance, which is a milestone in the industry and has significant reputational value for everyone involved.”
Jose Maria Torre, Fleet Director, Grupo Ibaizabal
