Trelleborg’s fluid handling operation, a leading supplier of innovative flexible bonded hoses for the crude oil, chemicals and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) offshore industries, has been awarded EN1474-2 accreditation following the development of a revolutionary hose design for use in the transfer of LNG between floating terminals and carriers. It is the first product of its kind in the world to receive this accreditation.
Up until very recently, the vast majority of projects have adopted a side-by-side configuration when undertaking LNG transfer, with the end product transferred via a cryogenic marine loading arm between two vessels positioned alongside one another. The close proximity of the two vessels – as little as five meters/ 16 feet – has been known to lead to a number of potential operational difficulties as well as an increased scope for issues around safety, involving collision between the two vessels. This led to the development of a ground-breaking new approach. As such, vessels can now be situated in tandem with one behind the other at a distance of approximately 100-150 meters/ 328 to 492 feet, enhancing the overall safety and efficiency of the LNG transfer process through a larger operating window and enabling LNG transfer to occur even in the most challenging of weather conditions.