Titan performs gas-up and cool-down operation in Algeciras

Dutch bunker supplier Titan’s LNG bunker vessel carried out gassing-up and cooling-down (GUCD) operation for an LNG carrier operated by Japanese shipping firm Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK Line).

PHOTO: Titan's LNG bunker vessel Kairos performing the GUCD operation last week in Algeciras. Titan

LNG-fuelled vessels periodically require to gas-free their onboard LNG storage tanks. This activity is typically carried out on newbuild vessels, vessels coming out from dry-docking or those requiring inspections and repairs.

During GUCD operations, the remaining gas stored in tanks is first emptied. Once the gas is safely removed, the storage tanks are cooled from normal temperature to cryogenic temperatures by spraying LNG on the spray nozzles of each storage tank.

LNG cargo tanks need to be cooled down to cryogenic temperatures, as LNG vaporises immediately if it is loaded into warm tanks.

The GUCD operation was carried out on NYK’s 174,000 cbm capacity LNG carrier Grace Emilia in Algeciras. Titan used its bunker vessel Kairos for this operation.

By Nithin Chandran

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