Section 2 Submission of plans and documentation
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Clasifications Register Rules and Regulations - Rules for LNG Ships and Barges Equipped with Regasification Systems, July 2022 - Chapter 1 Rules for LNG Ships and Barges Equipped with Regasification Systems - Section 2 Submission of plans and documentation

Section 2 Submission of plans and documentation

Parent topic: Chapter 1 Rules for LNG Ships and Barges Equipped with Regasification Systems

2.1 General

2.1.1 Documentation, together with the relevant information as detailed in this Section, shall be submitted for consideration.

2.1.2 Any alterations to basic design, construction, materials, manufacturing procedure, equipment, fittings or arrangements of the process shall be re-submitted for approval before the regasification plant is put into operation.

2.2 Systems and arrangements

2.2.1 The plans and information required by relevant Sections of the Rules for Ships and the Rules for Ships for Liquefied Gases.

2.2.2 System description document: a description of the arrangements and the intended operating capability, design criteria and functionality of the regasification system in the context of the proposed service profile. It shall include the following information:

  1. particulars of piping arrangements and control systems, including material specifications, design pressure, design temperature, and design ambient weather conditions;

  2. operating design criteria that may include, as applicable:

    1. design maximum throughput and turn-down ratio in both open and closed loop operation. For closed loop operation, the maximum available heat input is also to be stated;

    2. design maximum discharge pressure and minimum gas superheat temperature for the regasification system;

    3. the maximum and minimum permissible variations from the design conditions;

    4. the maximum permissible back pressure occurring in the discharge pipeline;

    5. design maximum transfer rates where ship-to-ship transfer is involved and the method and control used to handle boil-off gas and displacement gas to and from the offloading vessel;

    6. the minimum required gas output for a specific sea-water temperature and throughput, as applicable;

    7. the maximum LNG throughput at various sea-water inlet temperatures;

    8. the design minimum temperature and throughput of the heated water or heat transfer fluid;

    9. the output of the boiler or alternative heating arrangement;

    10. the minimum allowable sea-water outlet temperature.

  3. procedures for connecting/disconnecting the gas send-out and LNG cargo hose, isolation arrangements and inerting and gas-freeing of the transfer lines;

  4. emergency procedures to be followed during regasification and ship-to-ship operations. These shall include guidance on procedures to be followed in the event of sudden closure of the land-based send-out gas master valve;

  5. operational maintenance procedures for the propulsion machinery and all other equipment and components usually used during navigation of the LNG ship which will remain on ‘stand-by’ or in ‘cold’ condition to allow the machinery and equipment to remain in a suitable condition to be reactivated without significant delay in the event of emergency departure or planned relocations of the ship;

  6. specified and achieveable levels of availability.

2.2.3 Risk based analysis undertaken to a recognised Standard in accordance with LR’s ShipRight procedure Risk Based Certification (RBC) and the associated Annex on LNG. The analysis shall be documented so that the risks and how they are eliminated or mitigated are clearly identified, and an appropriate level of safety, dependability and hazardous area classification is demonstrated.

2.2.4 Regasification system general arrangement. Plans showing the general arrangement of all areas where equipment, components and piping systems are located.

2.2.5 Plans for vaporisers, heat exchangers (shell/tube, printed circuit and plate type), LNG drum, liquid receivers and other pressure vessels (see also Pt 5, Ch 11 Other Pressure Vessels of the Rules for Ships).

2.2.6 Plans and documents as required by Pt 6, Ch 1 Control Engineering Systems of the Rules for Ships, showing the automatic controls, alarms and safety systems within the regasification system.

2.2.7 The thermodynamic calculations confirming the design send-out rates for the vaporisers.

2.2.8 Capacity calculations for pressure relief valves and discharge pipe vent stack pressure drop calculations.

2.2.9 Piping information is to include:

  1. schematic plans, including full particulars of piping and instrumentations for:

    1. low and high pressure LNG supply pipework;

    2. primary and secondary thermal fluid systems;

    3. heating system for closed loop operation;

    4. depressurisation system (knock-out drum or shock load verification arrangements);

    5. ship-to-ship manifold and transfer arrangements;

    6. high pressure gas send-out systems;

    7. cooling water systems;

    8. other associated ancillary systems.

  2. details of means of draining, inerting, and gas-freeing of the regasification pipework, equipment and components;

  3. installation and insulation arrangements;

  4. protection of ship structure, ship systems and equipment against cryogenic leakage;

  5. pipe stress analysis. A complete stress analysis as required by the Rules for Ships for Liquefied Gases of the LNG and gas piping systems, including the gas send-out manifold. It shall take into account the weight of pipes, contents, insulation, accelerations (e.g. due to ship motions if significant), internal pressure, thermal contraction, shock loads due to depressurisation, and loads induced by hog and sag of the ship for each branch of the piping system.

2.2.10 Hazardous Area Plan for regasification equipment and send-out system.

2.2.11 Interfaces: plans and documents detailing the ship to regasification system interfaces.

2.2.12 Safety system plans: fire-fighting details, gas detection details, fire and general alarm details, all related to the additional regasification system and to the send-out arrangements. They shall be included in the main safety system plans of the vessel for approval in accordance with the Rules for Ships for Liquefied Gases.

2.2.13 Escape plan: details of the arrangements for safe escape protection in relation to the additional regasification system and to the send-out arrangements.

2.2.14 An emergency shutdown (ESD) system cause and effect matrix that shall cover the additional operational scenarios of regasification and ship-to-ship transfer. This shall be integrated with the ESD main system matrix of the vessel. Where an ESD initiation results in multiple actions, the matrix shall indicate these in the order in which they will be performed.

2.2.15 A functional flow chart of the ESD system and connected systems shall be provided, which aligns with the cause and effect matrix and details the functions provided by the ESD System. This shall be retained on board at the cargo control station and on the navigation bridge.

2.2.16 A process shutdown (PSD), cause/effect matrix and design philosophy.

2.2.17 Details of depressurisation and high pressure blow-down philosophy and arrangements.

2.2.18 Ancillary systems or additional equipment such as blending facilities, odorisers, dew point correction/ dehumidification, control and monitoring facilities where these are to be considered as part of the classed equipment.

2.2.19 Operating manuals shall be submitted. The content of the manuals shall include but not be limited to:

  1. particulars and a description of the systems;

  2. overall operation of the system, including procedures for planned start-up and shutdown;

  3. maintenance instructions for the installed equipment, systems and arrangements;

  4. temperature and pressure control systems;

  5. system limitations, including minimum temperatures, maximum pressures, transfer rates;

  6. special procedures associated with fire-fighting where different from ship systems;

  7. details of fixed gas detection where different from ship fitted systems;

  8. control, alarm and safety systems;

  9. emergency and process shutdown systems, including pressure relief and blowdown;

  10. emergency procedures, including isolation from cargo tank.

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