A discussion covers crane engineering of the Stahl CraneSystems company, expert in explosion protection, as it applies to its offerings of cranes of whatever size involved in LNG exports and imports at the LNG tanker terminals. Topics include introduction; pump maintenance at -161°C; construction without clasps; and the world counts on LNG. An LNG tanker is illustrated. The hoisting mechanism with safeguards for a pump in a liquid gas tank is diagrammatically shown. An illustration of hoisting devices in Qatar shows them as immune to exposure to sand, heat, dust, and sea air. An illustration of a special hoisting apparatus for maintenance work in liquid gas tanks reveals its redundancy as assuring double security in this area that is in danger of explosion. Two hoisting cables are used for the same task. If one of the cables breaks, the other cable continues to operate. Another photograph shows a crane that lifts up to 1,600 kg of facility components carrying them to an open space for maintenance in a chemical plant. Stahl CraneSystems offers for each application the fitting solution with respect to explosion-protected crane engineering. To relax dependence on gas imports from Russia, LNG terminals are appearing in European harbors. Milford Haven in Wales is the largest LNG import harbor with its capacity to cover about 20% of British natural gas requirements. France, Italy, and Spain have built several LNG terminals and others are planned. With respect to small modern power plants, natural gas is the genuine bridge technology in the conversion to decentralized, regenerative electric power production. It is estimated between 2010 and 2015 over $(US)140 billion will be invested in LNG export facilities. Australia would become the export leader, overtaking Qatar.
