# US 8,739,719 B2 · Method for operating an LNG fuelled marine vessel and a corresponding marine vessel

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- Number: US 8,739,719 B2
- Document ID: US8739719B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/378,254
- Filed: 2011-03-10
- Published: 2012-04-19
- Granted: 2014-06-03
- Earliest claimed: 2010-04-09
- Assignees: WäRtsilä Finland Oy
- Applicants: Leif Backlund; Mathias Jansson
- Inventors: Leif Backlund; Mathias Jansson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8739719B2

## CPC

- B63J 99/00: Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
- B63B 17/0027: {Tanks for fuel or the like (constructional features of bunkers B63B11/04); Accessories therefor, e.g. tank filler caps (fuel tanks for vehicles in general B60K15/03; cargo tanks B63B25/08; cleaning of tanks B63B57/00; handling of liquids for use in power plants B63H21/38)}
- B63B 17/0036: {Arrangements for minimizing pollution by accidents (associated with cargo tanks B63B25/082)}
- B63B 27/24: of pipe-lines
- F02M 21/0215: {Mixtures of gaseous fuels; Natural gas; Biogas; Mine gas; Landfill gas}
- F02M 21/029: {Arrangement on engines or vehicle bodies; Conversion to gaseous fuel supply systems}
- B63J 2099/003: {of cargo oil or fuel, or of boil-off gases, e.g. for propulsive purposes}
- Y02T 10/30: Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels
- Y02T 70/50: Measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions related to the propulsion system
- B63J: AUXILIARIES ON VESSELS
- B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06)
- F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

A method for operating an LNG fuelled marine vessel having a propulsion system, a power plant and an LNG storage tank, whereby LNG is supplied as a gas fuel from the LNG storage tank to the power plant. The marine vessel deploys a fixed LNG storage tank and a removable LNG storage tank on board the marine vessel. In order to facilitate bunkering, the removable LNG storage tank is removed and replaced by another removable LNG storage tank at a bunkering facility.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for operating an LNG fuelled marine vessel, which marine vessel comprises a propulsion system, a power plant and an LNG storage tank,
in which method LNG is supplied as a gas fuel from the LNG storage tank to the power plant, and
in which method the marine vessel is refuelled at a bunkering facility,
wherein the marine vessel deploys a fixed LNG storage tank on board the marine vessel, the marine vessel deploys a removable LNG storage tank on board the marine vessel, and the removable LNG storage tank is removed and replaced by another removable LNG storage tank at the bunkering facility, and
wherein the removable LNG storage tank is connected to the fixed LNG storage tank when the removable LNG storage tank is deployed on the marine vessel so that the LNG can be transferred from the removable LNG storage tank to the fixed LNG storage tank.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein LNG is transferred from the deployed removable LNG storage tank to the fixed LNG storage tank at a given rate during operation of the marine vessel at sea.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the removable LNG storage tank that is deployed on the marine vessel is emptied before being disconnected from the fixed LNG storage tank, the emptied removable LNG storage tank is removed from the marine vessel, another removable LNG storage tank provided with LNG is deployed on the marine vessel, and said another removable LNG storage tank provided with LNG is connected to the fixed LNG storage tank.

### Claim 4

A marine vessel comprising a propulsion system, a power plant, and a fixed LNG storage tank connected to the power plant for supplying fuel to the power plant, wherein the marine vessel further comprises a removable LNG storage tank, and the removable LNG storage tank is arranged to be detachably connected to the fixed LNG storage tank by means of a releasable connection line, wherein the removable LNG storage tank is connected to the fixed LNG storage tank when the removable LNG storage tank is deployed on the marine vessel so that the LNG can be transferred from the removable LNG storage tank to the fixed LNG storage tank.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The marine vessel according to claim 4, wherein the fixed LNG storage tank is located above or below a main deck of the marine vessel, and in the removable LNG storage tank is arranged to be located on top of the fixed LNG storage tank.

### Claim 6

A method for operating an LNG fuelled marine vessel, the marine vessel comprising a power plant and an LNG storage tank, the marine vessel deploying a removable LNG storage tank on board the marine vessel and a fixed LNG storage tank on the marine vessel, the method comprising:
supplying LNG as a gas fuel from the LNG storage tank to the power plant; and
refueling the marine vessel at a bunkering facility by:
removing the removable LNG storage tank; and
replacing the removable LNG storage by another removable LNG storage tank at the bunkering facility.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of the claim 6, further comprising
connecting the removable LNG storage tank to the fixed LNG storage tank, when the removable LNG storage tank is deployed on the marine vessel; and
transferring the LNG from the removable LNG storage tank to the fixed LNG storage tank.