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ABS Selected to Review Breakthrough Compressed Natural
Gas Carrier Design
July 23, 2002
(Houston,
TX---) ABS, the classification society that pioneered the
establishment of safety standards for the carriage of liquefied
natural gas (LNG), has been selected to assist the partnership
among EnerSea Transport LLC of Houston, Texas, Hyundai
Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. of Korea (HHI) and Kawasaki
Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. ("K" Line) in developing vessels
designed to carry compressed natural gas (CNG). ABS has
been selected to provide "class approval in principle" of
Enersea's VOTRANS (Volume Optimized Transport Storage)
compressed natural gas vessel concept to the ABS classification
requirements.
Recognizing
the complexities of incorporating these CNG technologies
into the application of transportation and storage of
the gas, EnerSea has chosen not only to use the classification
resources of ABS, but also the risk management and risk
assessment services of ABSG Consulting Inc. (ABS Consulting)
to address the overall risks associated with the design,
construction and operation of the vessels using both
quantitative and qualitative studies.
"In
development of a novel concept such as the one developed
by EnerSea, the use of risk assessment techniques will
be key in assisting class to verify that the vessel is
designed and constructed to achieve the highest safety
levels as well as provide for optimum performance," said
Chris Serratella, Chief Engineer, ABS Consulting.
ABS Consulting
provides rational engineering-based solutions that blend
state-of-the-art technology with practical loss-control
measures and innovative risk-transfer options.
"ABS
has compiled considerable experience with compressed natural
gas technology from our involvement in several recent projects," said
Ken Richardson, ABS Vice President, Engineering. "We
will be able to contribute that experience to this innovative
project. By providing class 'approval in principle' for
the design, we will enable EnerSea, Hyundai and "K" Line
to move forward with confidence and will speed formal approval
of the project."
As owner
and operator of EnerSea's next generation of gas ships, "K" Line
Director Hisashi Yasui said, "Our operations experience
coupled with this innovative technology and the classification
experience and guidance from ABS promises to be an industry-winning
combination in natural gas transportation."
Richardson
added, "As the society that pioneered the classification
of LNG vessels and as the only society to have approved
all the accepted LNG containment systems, our selection
to work with EnerSea and Hyundai on their compressed natural
gas vessel concept is a natural outgrowth for us."
Founded
in 1862, ABS (www.eagle.org)
is a leading international classification society devoted
to promoting the security of life, property and the marine
environment through the development and verification of
standards for the design, construction and operational
maintenance of marine-related facilities.
Headquartered
in Houston, Texas, ABS Consulting (www.absconsulting.com)
is an affiliate of ABS.
For more information contact:
Rebecca Rieansnider
Senior Marketing Communications Specialist - ABS Consulting
1-281-673-2948 | rrieansnider@absconsulting.com |
