Model, LNG Carrier Methane Shirley Elisabeth
Model, LNG Carrier Methane Shirley Elisabeth
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Usage conditions apply
- Description
- Liquid natural gas (LNG) is composed mostly of methane (80–99%). For shipping, it is chilled to -260°F, at which point it is condensed into a liquid 1/600 of its original volume. It is transported globally in this form aboard ships with insulated containers that offload it at special terminals.
- LNG tankers have been around the United States since 1959, when the first cargo was exported from Lake Charles, Louisiana, to England. There are around 200 LNG tankers in service in 2007, and nearly that many more are on order at specialized shipyards to meet the globe’s growing demand for this source of energy.
- LNG tankers have completed more than 40,000 voyages without serious incident; they have the best safety record of any category of commercial shipping. However, they are among the world’s most expensive and difficult ships to build.
- Methane Shirley Elisabeth is one of the newest types of LNG tankers, having been delivered to its owners in March 2007. Its double hulls, separated by six feet of seawater, protect the four gas tanks, which are refrigerated and insulated to maintain the -260°F temperature. The tanks, or membranes, consist of layers of stainless steel and other materials alternating with thick foam insulation. The insides of the membranes are lined with stainless steel, corrugated in two dimensions to prevent the frozen gas from sloshing around inside.
- Object Name
- ship model, liquefied natural gas tanker
- ship model, tanker, LNG
- model, liquefied natural gas tanker
- Date made
- 2006
- maker
- Samsung
- Physical Description
- metal (overall material)
- paint (overall material)
- plastic (overall material)
- glass (case material)
- wood (case material)
- Measurements
- overall: 15 in x 74 1/2 in x 12 in; 38.1 cm x 189.23 cm x 30.48 cm
- ID Number
- 2007.0205.01
- accession number
- 2007.0205
- catalog number
- 2007.0205.01
- Credit Line
- Gift of BG Group
- subject
- Fishing
- Contemporary United States
- See more items in
- Work and Industry: Maritime
- Energy & Power
- Engineering, Building, and Architecture
- Transportation
- Exhibition
- On the Water
- Exhibition Location
- National Museum of American History
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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