Dipl.-Ing. Klemens Hitzbleck, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bettar Ould el Moctar LNG Masterplan for Rhine-Main-Danube

The main objective of the global project under the leadership of Pro Danube Management GmbH is to prepare and launch the full-scale deployment of LNG as an environmentally-friendly and efficient fuel, thereby making an initial but important contribution to initiating the implementation of LNG in the inland navigation sector. It is a combined effort by sea and inland ports, authorities, barge operators, technology suppliers and energy suppliers which will remove market barriers and take the first steps in realising a new LNG supply chain. The LNG Masterplan consists of a set of feasibility studies, technical concepts, technical trials and pilot deployments of vessels and terminals. The activities will be carried out by 33 partners from 12 countries and are clustered in five actions each consisting of four sub-activities.

Objectives of the University of Duisburg-Essen

The University of Duisburg-Essen contributes to the global project by taking the lead in the following sub-activities:

• Engine technologies and concepts
• Vessel concepts (newly-built and retrofits) and
• Assessment of concepts, trials & pilot deployments.

As part of the activities, the institute will report on engine types and configuration options available and/or under development  as well as fuel quality requirements, optimised energy management and the  impact of engine technologies on future targets for emission reduction. Studies will be provided on the analysis of technical vessel concepts and solutions for newly-built vessels as well as conversions. The main focus of our activities will be on measuring and analysing the impact of the technical concepts, trials and pilot deployments in the project on efficiency and emissions to pave the way for further developments and efforts for greener shipping.

The project is sponsored by the European Union.