As their CO2, SOx, and NOx emissions have a lower environmental load compared to ships using traditional oil fuels, the number of LNG-fueled ships has been rising in recent years.

Facilities supplying LNG as fuel from dock facilities to general ships, on the other hand, are still limited. Liquefied gas carriers supplying LNG fuel at sea are considered to be candidates for ensuring fuel supply variations, and more liquefied gas carriers (LNG bunkering ships) are also being designed and operated to supply LNG to ships.

Currently, no international agreements have been developed for the facilities/equipment of ships moving LNG to other ships at sea and additional protection equipment has been separately considered. ClassNK has developed a Guideline which compiles the requirements for additional equipment for the safe transfer of LNG between ships and surveys on the basis of the examinations carried out to date.

Maritime Business World