/Source: Hudong-Zhonghua Official WeChat
According to a message released by the State Administration for Market Regulation on June 22, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) recently officially released the world’s first international standard specifically for measuring the Boil-Off Rate (BOR) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo containment systems, ISO 21154:2026 “Ships and marine technology — Measurement method for boil-off rate (BOR) of LNG ship cargo containment systems”. This international standard was led by China, incorporating the expertise of experts from countries including the United States, South Korea, Japan, Norway, and Singapore, marking another significant contribution by China to the high-tech ship LNG field following the international standard for ultra-low temperature valves.
The boil-off rate is a core indicator for measuring the thermal insulation performance and operational efficiency of LNG ship cargo containment systems, directly affecting ship operating costs, cargo transport losses, and greenhouse gas emission levels. For a long time, the lack of a unified global testing standard led to incomparable results, causing trade disputes and warranty controversies, severely restricting the high-quality development of the LNG industry chain and the efficient connection of global energy transportation.
/Source: Hudong-Zhonghua Official WeChat
With the acceleration of global energy structure transformation and the continuous growth of global demand for clean energy, the number of LNG ships under construction has increased significantly. Establishing a unified, scientific, and authoritative international standard for BOR testing has become an urgent need for the global maritime community. This international standard systematically stipulates six core elements in the BOR testing process for LNG ship cargo containment systems: test principles, test conditions, test equipment, test procedures, data acquisition and processing, and test reports. Among them, the test procedures specify the data measured during three phases: loading, voyage, and unloading conditions. Notably, considering the importance of wind speed and voyage distance to the stable state of LNG liquid cargo, the standard specifies boundary conditions for wind speed and voyage distance regarding test data under voyage conditions, stipulates the minimum data volume for short voyage scenarios, ensures data validity, enhances the applicability of the standard, and is widely applicable to cargo containment systems of ship types such as LNG carriers, LNG floating storage and regasification units, and LNG bunkering vessels. It can also serve as a reference basis for boil-off rate testing of fuel containment systems for LNG-fueled power ships. The technical content of this standard comprehensively covers current mainstream cargo containment systems, possessing broad applicability and foresight.
It is understood that this international standard was led by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited, and co-led by the CSSC Integrated Technology and Economic Research Institute. It was approved for project initiation by the International Organization for Standardization’s Technical Committee for Ships and Marine Technology (/TC 8) in 2023. The release of this international standard fully reflects the positive interaction between standards, scientific research, and technological achievement transformation within China’s shipbuilding industry in the LNG industry chain, and also demonstrates China’s capability and commitment to deeply participating in global maritime governance and promoting the improvement of the international standards system.
