Alpha Process Controls (APC), part of the GT Group, has secured Class Approval for its new 4-inch marine emergency breakaway coupling for use in Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) transfer.
The latest member of APC’s family of Emergency Release Couplings (ERC), the 4-inch system, for small-scale LNG transfer, has been accredited by the classification society, Nippon Kaiji Kyokai, based in Japan.
The society, which is also known as ClassNK , is actively engaged in a growing range of ship-related activities and services aimed at contributing to promoting the protection of human life and property at sea as well as protection of the marine environment.
It undertook extensive and meticulous independent testing of the ERC system, which can also be employed for the transfer of hazardous chemicals, cryogenic liquids and gas.
In keeping with other members of the APC family of coupling solutions, the 4-in system includes innovative technology to prevent the requirement for expensive hydraulic power units to perform shutdowns in the event of ship to ship or ship to shore separation.
Instead, APC couplings feature an emergency release system featuring a two-stage operation that enables the controlled shutdown of internal valves before instigating a coupling separation.
Through controlled shutdown of the ERC coupling, even at high flow rates, pressure surges are maintained to a level without compromising pipework or pumps in the event of a vessel drift-away.
John Lamb, Managing Director of Alpha Process Controls, said: “Achieving Class Approval for our 4-in ERC coupling from a globally-recognised society is a significant endorsement of the extensive research and development we have undertaken to bring this system to market.
“Demand for LNG is growing, in part due to its application as a fuel for ships and ferries, which in turn has increased the focus on the importance of safe and efficient transfer.
“Extending our family of couplings, which now range from four to ten–inch diameter enables Alpha Process Controls to meet a wider range of customer requirements and help influence increased safety in the industry through the application of cutting-edge technology.”
