Gassing-Up/Cool-Down

Service Overview

Saibu Gas’ Hibiki LNG Terminal is located close to South Korea, China, and Singapore, which have many shipyards for LNG vessels. It is also easily accessible from Taiwan, Vietnam, and Thailand, where LNG demand is growing rapidly in East and Southeast Asia. It is also located on the main shipping routes to loading terminal such as the United States, Canada and Australia. We offer Gassing-Up/Cool-Down (GUCD) services for LNG tankers, supported by the terminal’s flexible berth availability.

Through these services, we deliver safe and efficient support for the preparation work required before loading LNG into new LNG tankers, LNG tankers that have been dry-docked, or LNG tankers that are in a warm up state due to an increase in tank temperature.

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  01Gassing-Up

  In this process, inert gas (typically nitrogen) contained in the cargo tanks of LNG vessel is replaced with natural gas. This prepares the cargo tank to safely receive LNG.

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  02Cool-Down

  Direct injection of LNG into ambient-temperature LNG tank not only results in excessive boil-off gas generation, but also places stress on the tank and associated equipment. Therefore, in this process, after gassing up, cryogenic LNG is used to gradually cool the cargo tank to a temperature suitable for loading LNG. This prevents product loss and excessive stress on equipment caused by rapid temperature changes, and achieves safe preparation for loading. Several hundred tons of LNG are used in processes 1 and 2.

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  03Heel Top-Up

  LNG is loaded both to maintain the cargo tank at cryogenic temperature (Keep-Cool) and to provide the fuel required to reach the next loading terminal. The required amount of LNG is loaded for the next loading terminal, or according to the customer’s request.