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Japanese classification society Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) held LNG-Fuelled Vessel Technologies seminars in Shanghai and Singapore last week, on 22 July and 24 July 2014 respectively.

With the industry looking to adopt cleaner fuels to meet new environmental regulations as well as future economic growth, the demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a fuel is rapidly increasing. ClassNK organized these seminars to provide the industry with the latest technical information on the use of LNG as a fuel and related technology.

In addition to ClassNK’s own LNG experts, specialists from the various sectors of the Japanese maritime industry including shipbuilders, shipowners, and marine equipment manufacturers presented on a range of LNG related topics at the seminars. About 160 industry members attended the event in Shanghai, and about 180 in Singapore, where Taira Narisawa, Regional Manager of China, and Toshio Kurashiki, Regional Manager of South Asia and Oceania gave the opening remarks on behalf of ClassNK at each respective event.

Among the foremost experts at the seminars, Professor Koji Takasaki, Graduate School of Engineering Sciences, Kyushu University gave a presentation titled 'Development of Natural Gas Fuelled Ships in the World', followed by a presentation from NYK LINE’s General Manager of Fuel Group Yukio Matsukata on 'NYK’s Challenges on LNG Fuel Project'.

The seminar also explored viable options for the use of LNG as a fuel with Tetsuji Yamada, Daihatsu Diesel MFG. Co. Ltd presenting on the 'Development of 4-Stroke Marine Dual Fuel Engine', and Kei Tanaka from the Cooperative Association of Japan Shipbuilders outlining a 'Study of Small Scale LNG Carrier/Bunkering Ship with DF Engine'. Takashi Unseki, Chief Engineer, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries explored various LNG usage options in his presentation 'Environmentally Friendly & Superior Solution with LNG as Fuel'.

Koichi Nishifuji, Manager of ClassNK’s Natural Resource and Energy Department ended the seminar with a talk about the society’s ongoing activities relating to LNG-fuelled vessels.

The seminar was supported by Japanese maritime media company Kaiji Press Co., Ltd in Shanghai and Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) in Singapore.

The presentation material is available at the web address below.

http://classnk-rd.com/LNG-Fuelled_Vessel_Technologies_Seminar