100th LNG Carrier to be Fitted with Bestobell FLIV

Bestobell Valves, part of the President Engineering Group, announced a new contract which brings the total of orders for its innovative patented Float Level Insulation Valves (FLIV) across the world to over 100.

The new contract for FLIV is with Bestobell’s Chinese partner, Valseal International Ltd. on behalf of Hudong Shipyard in Shanghai, China. The order is for the six China Shipping and Mitsui O.S.K Lines LNG carriers that will be built there. According to the company, this is a major achievement for Bestobell and Valseal, and will help secure Bestobell’s position as a major supplier of LNG cryogenic valves in the expanding Chinese LNG carrier new build market. FLIV has proved to be a successful product for Bestobell and since the first FLIV was supplied to an LNG carrier back in 2007 then 6/10 of all LNG carriers that have been built have FLIV fitted.

The FLIV was designed by Bestobell Valves back in the mid 2000s to eliminate the problems associated with gate valves that were used to isolate the secondary float level measurement equipment from the cargo tanks. Unlike gate valves the operation of the valve eliminates the risk of cutting the tape or damaging the float during operation should the valve be closed accidentally, and when the float is still in the tank. This can cause the float to fall back into cargo tank and have to be retrieved. The FLIV has a compact design compared to a gate valve and also includes an integral inspection chamber from which the float can be serviced, thus eliminating the need for a separate fabricated component. An open/close indication, and lock should ensure that the crew members cannot close the valve when the float is still in the cargo tank.

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