New tanker emits zero emissions in port operations

(GOTHENBURG, Sweden) — Swedish tanker operator Terntank and the Port of Gothenburg made maritime and environmental history on Feb. 10 when they welcomed Tern Island, a tanker that emits no greenhouse gases or carbon particulates during port operations.

Tern Island is equipped with new electric power supply hybrid system, including a battery pack, onshore power supply and a DC-link system which is reported to be able to reduce its auxiliary energy consumption during port operations by 99 percent. The shore power connection has been developed with the Port of Gothenburg, which is said to be the first port in the world that can connect tankers to electricity.

Terntank photo

Furthermore, Tern Island is 100 percent biofuel compatible. The main engine, boiler and auxiliary engine are designed to reduce the environmental impact and perform safe operations running on biofuels. By combining the optimized hull and rudder design with dual-fuel capability, Tern Island can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 70 percent when running on 30 percent biogas and almost eliminate the emissions of sulfur oxide and nitrogen oxide.

Designed by Terntank and Kongsberg Maritime CM AS and delivered on Dec. 15 at China Merchants Jinling Shipyard, Tern Island is the first of two 15,000-dwt chemical and product tankers in the Terntank Hybrid Solution series. The vessel combines a dual-fuel engine that uses liquefied biogas (LBG) or liquefied natural gas (LNG), which means that it is able to operate completely on fossil-free fuel.

The battery pack also provides an energy reserve for power generation, limiting unnecessary parallel running of generators, and provides a blackout prevention function that keeps the electrical network alive.

Tern Island has a cargo capacity of 16,500 cubic meters in 14 epoxy-coated tanks. It will be commercially operated by the Finnish North European Oil Trade (NEOT) in the Baltic Sea area and will be included in a pool along with other vessels from Terntank.

The shore power supply is part of Gothenburg’s Energy Port initiative, which is the first of its kind in the world. When complete, it will enable a reduction in carbon emissions from vessels in the port by 1,800 tonnes per year.

– Terntank

By Rich Miller