About the Project
The aim of our webships programme is to educate and inform its users of the vital role shipping makes to the global economy, to highlight the importance of the maritime sector to the British economy and defence infrastructure, and to offer a unique insight into life at sea in 2008.
The project is delivered through a partnership between BP Shipping and The Marine Society & Sea Cadets and supported by the Merchant Navy Training Board, the authoritative centre of expertise and information on careers and training issues for the UK maritime sector.
From intercontinental trade to the bulk transport of raw materials, shipping today has become the lynchpin of the global economy. Without shipping, the import and export of goods on the scale necessary for the modern world would not be possible as ships carry 95% of our overseas trade.
About the Ship
British Trader
The focus of this webship is British Trader, one of BP Shipping’s modern Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) carriers.
Longer than three football fields and powered by two steam turbine engines that provide up to 39500 horse power to run at a speed of 22 knots, British Trader employs state of the art technology to ensure the safe, efficient and reliable transportation of 138,000 cubic meters (4.9 million cubic feet) of LNG.
LNG or liquefied natural gas, is natural gas that has been processed to remove impurities and heavy hydrocarbons and then condensed into a liquid at atmospheric pressure by cooling it to approximately –160 ºc. LNG is used to move natural gas from producer to consumer where pipelines are not economic because of distance or technical reasons such as the need to cross deep water.
About the Company
BP Shipping provides the safe and environmentally responsible transportation of the BP Group’s hydrocarbons around the world. It operates an international fleet of crude oil tankers, product tankers and LNG (liquefied natural gas) carriers, as well as other support vessels, all of which are crewed by around 1,000 seafarers and lead the industry in terms of health and safety performance.
BP Shipping is expanding the fleet of new double hull ships while also increasing the number of sea and shore staff required to operate and support these new vessels. Operating worldwide, it has a fleet of over 100 operated and time chartered ships, which will grow to some 130 ships by 2010.
These vessels, supported by chartered tonnage, move BP’s own production, feed its refineries and markets, and carry third party cargoes. BP Shipping also manages coastal transport in several regions around the world.
Finally, BP Shipping is the centre of shipping and marine expertise for the BP Group. BP Shipping provides all group shipping and marine assurance, including vessel design, procurement, operations, chartering in and out, and ship and marine terminal vetting and port clearance.