LR Approves Babcock LGE Gas Carrier System with 25% Energy Cut | Mariner News
Lloyd’s Register (LR) has granted Approval in Principle (AiP) to Babcock LGE’s ecoAPEX cargo handling system for liquefied gas carriers, a development promising a significant 25% reduction in reliquefaction energy consumption. The certification was presented on Tuesday at Gastech 2026 in Bangkok, a week after the UK marine engineering firm launched the technology.
The ecoAPEX system connects two onboard processes that typically run independently: cooling boil-off gas through reliquefaction and heating fuel gas for engine consumption. Babcock LGE claims this integrated approach, achieved without adding rotating machinery, can improve reliquefaction efficiency by up to 33%.
Beyond energy savings, the company states the patent-pending concept also cuts loading and cooldown times by 14%. For gas carrier operators, this translates to reduced operating costs and lower emissions, alongside the potential for increased vessel utilization through faster port operations. The integration without additional rotating components suggests a design aimed at simplifying operations and potentially lowering maintenance demands.
The AiP for ecoAPEX marks a move towards more integrated and energy-efficient solutions in gas carrier design, offering direct operational and environmental benefits for the sector.
