Independence LNG Floating Storage Regasification Unit (LNG FSRU), Lithuania

Independence is the world's first new-build liquefied natural gas (LNG) floating storage regasification unit (FSRU).
It is built at Hyundai Heavy Industries' (HHI) shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea, for floating LNG services provider
Hegh LNG. The vessel will be chartered to Klaipedos Nafta under a ten-year lease agreement signed in March
2012, which also includes an option for purchase.
The FSRU, built at an estimated cost of $330m, will supply LNG in Lithuania. It was ordered in June 2011 and the
first steel was cut in September 2012. It was christened Independence in a naming ceremony held at Ulsan in
February 2014. The ship has undergone successful sea trials and will sail to Klaipeda Port to start operations by
the end of 2014.
Independence is the first of four FSRUs being constructed by HHI for Hegh LNG. The FSRU will serve Klaipedos
Nafta's LNG terminal.
Design details of the Independence
The LNG FSRU incorporates a double hull built of mild steel. She has an overall length of 294m, a width of 46m
and a depth of 26m. She has a maximum draught of 12.6m and capacity to store 70,000t of chilled natural gas.
The vessel is of the Det Norske Veritas (DNV) class with a storage volum e of 170,000m of LNG in thermally
insulated membrane tanks. The LNG stored at -162 will be heated up to very high temperatures in the
regasification system onboard the ship so that it evaporates to form natural gas. The gas will be then delivered to
the vessel through pipelines to be supplied to consumers in Lithuania.
It has a regasification capacity of around 400,000scf/d and is powered by a dual fuel diesel
electric propulsion system.
Features of the new-build LNG FSRU
Wartsila Hamworthy was contracted in November 2011 for supplying the regasification unit to be fitted onboard the
LNG FSRU. The propane-seawater regasification system is 20m long, 18m wide and 10m in height, and has an
overall weight of 500t. It was delivered in the form of modules, including all the important process equipment
installed for easy integration onboard the vessel.
All the mechanical and electrical tests within the module, upon installation, were completed by Wartsila Hamworthy.
Details of the LNG terminal
The LNG terminal project, of which 72.32% is state-owned, is being implemented by Klaipedos Nafta. The terminal
is located at the southern part of Klaipeda sea port near Kiaules Nugara Island. Construction works on the terminal
started in 2012 and operations are scheduled to start in December 2014.
"It has a regasification capacity of around 400,000scf/d and is powered by a dual fuel diesel electric propulsion system."
It will receive and store LNG on the FSRU, which will regasify it to its original form, and supply to the main
transmission system. The main components of the terminal include the LNG FSRU, a 450m -long jetty and
associated facilities, and an 18km-long gas pipeline connecting the terminal to the gas metering station.
The FSRU is permanently moored near the jetty to receive LNG from LNG carriers. Other facilities to be erected on
the jetty include a high gas pressure platform, a servicing platform, mooring decks, berthing decks, communication
bridges, observation towers, a control room, fire safety equipment, cranes for technical maintenance and high
pressure gas transmission loading arms.