BM TECH — NBS Europe — is the sole Authorized Representative of NBS Corporation in Europe, providing supply, installation and full lifecycle service for NBS UNIFLOW and UNICON valves in LNG terminals, LPG storage and distribution facilities, LNG tankers, LPG tankers and liquefied gas processing installations across Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.
Liquefied natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas represent two of the most demanding valve service environments in the energy industry. LNG at −162°C. LPG under pressure at ambient temperature or refrigerated to −50°C for fully refrigerated storage. Both media flammable, both handled in quantities where a single valve failure can trigger consequences measured not in production losses but in safety incidents of the highest severity.
In LNG and LPG service, valve engineering is inseparable from process safety engineering. Every valve in the liquefied gas flow path — from storage tank isolation to loading arm manifold, from vapour return line to emergency shutoff — must be specified, installed, maintained and tested to standards that reflect the consequences of failure in this service.
NBS Corporation developed the UNIFLOW and UNICON valve series with the specific requirements of liquefied gas service as a core design parameter — not an afterthought. Validated in LNG tankers built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Japan Marine United Corporation and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and in LPG tankers constructed by the same leading Japanese shipyards, NBS valves carry a track record in liquefied gas service that extends across decades of continuous maritime operation.
As NBS Europe, BM TECH brings that proven liquefied gas valve technology — and the full service infrastructure to support it — to European LNG terminal operators, LPG storage facilities, shipping companies and liquefied gas processing plants.
Liquefied natural gas is natural gas cooled to −162°C — the temperature at which methane liquefies at atmospheric pressure. At this temperature, LNG occupies approximately 1/600th of the volume of gaseous natural gas, making it the practical solution for long-distance gas transportation by sea and for peak-shaving storage at gas distribution systems.
The valve service requirements in LNG installations are among the most demanding in all of process engineering:
Cryogenic temperature — −162°C is below the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature of carbon steel and most standard engineering alloys. All wetted components must be in materials that maintain ductility and toughness at cryogenic temperature — austenitic stainless steel, aluminium alloys and selected nickel alloys.
Thermal shock — LNG valves experience rapid temperature changes during start-up, shutdown and emergency operations. A valve at ambient temperature that is suddenly exposed to −162°C LNG must withstand the resulting thermal shock without cracking, distortion or loss of sealing performance.
Rollover and stratification risk — LNG storage tanks can experience rollover events — rapid mixing of stratified liquid layers of different densities — producing sudden vaporisation and pressure rise. Tank isolation valves must be capable of rapid, reliable closure under these conditions.
Boil-off gas management — LNG continuously produces boil-off gas as heat leaks into the storage system. Vapour return and boil-off management valves must handle gaseous methane at near-cryogenic temperatures reliably and continuously.
Methane compatibility — methane is not particularly aggressive as a chemical medium, but it is highly flammable and operates at conditions where ignition energy thresholds are low. Fugitive emission control — limiting methane leakage past valve stems and body joints — is both a safety and an environmental requirement.
Based on NBS Corporation’s reference installations in LNG tankers built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Japan Marine United Corporation and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, NBS UNIFLOW/UNICON valves serve the following duties in LNG service:
Manifold valves LNG loading and unloading manifolds connect the vessel or terminal to the transfer arm — handling the full LNG flow rate during cargo transfer operations. Manifold valves must provide reliable, rapid shutoff during emergency disconnection and must handle the thermal shock of initial LNG contact at the start of transfer operations.
Liquid line valves Primary isolation and control valves on LNG liquid transfer lines — from storage tank outlet to manifold, from manifold to cargo pump discharge. These valves handle continuous LNG service at −162°C and must maintain tight shutoff to prevent LNG leakage and boil-off gas release.
Vapor line valves Vapour return and boil-off gas management valves handle gaseous methane at near-cryogenic temperatures. In LNG tanker service, vapour line valves control the return of displaced vapour during loading and the management of boil-off gas for propulsion or reliquefaction.
Vent line valves Emergency and controlled venting of LNG vapour requires valves that open reliably under emergency conditions and seal tightly during normal operation — preventing uncontrolled methane release.
Storage valves Tank isolation and inventory management valves on LNG storage systems — requiring reliable shutoff to maintain tank isolation during maintenance and emergency conditions.
Boost / Heat line valves LNG vaporisation and heating system valves control the conversion of liquid LNG to gaseous natural gas for send-out or for fuel supply systems.
Boiler Turbine valves (LNG tanker) Steam boiler and turbine system valves on LNG tankers with steam propulsion — handling high-pressure, high-temperature steam in the ship’s propulsion system alongside the cryogenic cargo handling system.
Liquefied petroleum gas — primarily propane and butane — presents a different but equally demanding valve service environment. LPG is stored and transported under pressure at ambient temperature (approximately 8 bar for propane at 20°C) or refrigerated to near its atmospheric boiling point (−42°C for propane) in fully refrigerated storage and tanker installations.
LPG Tanker Valve Duties — NBS Reference Installations
NBS Corporation UNIFLOW/UNICON valves have been installed in LPG tankers built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ship & Offshore Structure Company, Japan Marine United Corporation and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Nagasaki Shipyard — covering the full range of LPG tanker valve duties:
Manifold system valves LPG loading and unloading manifold valves handle pressurised LPG transfer — with emergency shutoff capability required for rapid isolation during transfer emergencies. Fire-safe design and antistatic provisions are mandatory in LPG manifold service.
Venting line valves Controlled venting of LPG vapour from cargo tanks during pressure management operations — requiring reliable opening under controlled conditions and tight shutoff to prevent uncontrolled vapour release.
Purge line valves Inert gas purging of cargo tanks and piping systems before LPG loading or after discharge — requiring reliable service in both inert gas and LPG vapour conditions.
Liquid line valves Primary isolation and control on LPG liquid transfer lines — handling pressurised liquid LPG with tight shutoff requirements and fire-safe design certification.
Gas line valves LPG vapour line isolation and control — handling pressurised propane or butane vapour with the same fire-safe and antistatic requirements as liquid line service.
Emergency Shutoff Valves (ESD) The most safety-critical valves in any LPG installation — designed to close rapidly and reliably on receipt of an emergency signal, isolating LPG inventory from a leak or fire source. ESD valves must function correctly on first demand regardless of how long they have been in the open position — making periodic partial stroke testing an essential maintenance requirement.
Boost / Heat line valves LPG vaporisation and heating system valves for cargo conditioning and fuel supply.
LNG and LPG tankers operate under the requirements of international maritime safety regulations and marine classification society rules. Valves installed on board must comply with these requirements — a non-negotiable condition for vessel operation and insurance.
IGC Code (International Gas Carrier Code) The IGC Code — administered by the International Maritime Organization — defines the design, construction and equipment requirements for ships carrying liquefied gases in bulk. Cargo valve specifications, emergency shutoff requirements and materials standards are all defined by the IGC Code.
ISGOTT (International Safety Guide for Oil Tankers and Terminals) Terminal valve requirements for LNG and LPG loading and unloading operations — covering manifold valve specifications, ESD system requirements and maintenance standards.
Marine Classification Society Rules Lloyd’s Register, DNV GL, Bureau Veritas, ClassNK and other classification societies define their own rules for valve materials, testing and certification on vessels under their class. NBS valves supplied by BM TECH for marine service carry the relevant classification society approvals for the vessel’s class.
PED 2014/68/EU Shore-based LNG terminals and LPG storage facilities in Europe are subject to the Pressure Equipment Directive — requiring CE-marked valves with full PED documentation for all pressure-containing equipment.
BM TECH supplies NBS UNIFLOW/UNICON valves with the correct certification documentation for each applicable regulatory framework — marine classification, IGC Code compliance and PED where applicable.
Beyond marine applications, BM TECH provides valve supply and service for shore-based LNG infrastructure:
LNG receiving terminals Import terminals receiving LNG from tankers require cryogenic valves across the full process chain — unloading arms, storage tank isolation, send-out pumps, vaporisers and high-pressure send-out compression. NBS cryogenic valves cover all of these duties with full LNG service qualification.
LNG peak-shaving facilities Gas network operators and utilities use LNG peak-shaving facilities to store gas in liquid form during periods of low demand and vaporise it during peak demand periods. Valve reliability in these facilities is critical — the facility must be available precisely when peak demand occurs, which is also when the consequences of valve failure are most severe.
LNG satellite stations and virtual pipeline Small-scale LNG distribution by road tanker to locations not connected to the gas network — industrial customers, remote communities, CNG refuelling stations — requires cryogenic valves at storage and vaporisation facilities along the distribution chain.
Biogas and biomethane LNG Liquefied biomethane — produced from agricultural waste, landfill gas or wastewater treatment — uses the same cryogenic infrastructure as fossil LNG. BM TECH supplies NBS valves for biomethane liquefaction and distribution facilities as the renewable gas sector expands across Europe.
NBS Corporation UNIFLOW/UNICON valves have been installed in vessels built by:
LNG Tankers:
LPG Tankers:
These shipyards represent the highest level of liquefied gas carrier construction globally. Their repeated specification of NBS UNIFLOW/UNICON valves across multiple vessel generations reflects the performance that LNG and LPG service demands — and that NBS consistently delivers.
Vessels built by these yards are operating in European waters, calling at European terminals and being maintained in European shipyards. BM TECH provides the European service infrastructure to support NBS valve maintenance and repair for these vessels throughout their operational life.
Marine Valve Service — Drydock and Running Maintenance
LNG and LPG tanker valve maintenance occurs in two contexts — planned drydock maintenance at typically five-year intervals, and running maintenance carried out aboard the vessel between drydocks.
Drydock maintenance provides the opportunity for comprehensive valve inspection, overhaul and replacement across the full cargo valve population. BM TECH coordinates drydock valve service programmes — providing advance parts availability, pre-mobilisation of service engineers to the drydock location and documentation packages supporting classification society survey requirements.
Running maintenance addresses valve issues that arise between drydock periods — actuator failures, seat leakage on accessible valves and ESD valve testing. BM TECH provides running maintenance support at European ports and can mobilise service engineers to vessel locations across the European service area.
Emergency Shutoff Valve — Testing and Certification
ESD valves on LNG and LPG tankers require periodic testing to verify that they will function correctly on demand. Partial stroke testing — operating the valve through a partial travel to verify actuator function without interrupting cargo operations — is the standard method for ESD valve verification between drydocks.
BM TECH provides ESD valve partial stroke testing services aboard vessels at European ports — with test documentation supporting classification society requirements and vessel ISM Code records.
Shore Terminal Valve Service
For LNG terminal and LPG storage facility operators, BM TECH provides the full range of valve supply, installation, inspection and maintenance services — from initial valve specification and supply through lifecycle maintenance programmes and emergency response.
Cryogenic Valve Overhaul
LNG and LPG cryogenic valves requiring overhaul — seat replacement, extended bonnet maintenance, actuator overhaul — are serviced in BM TECH’s dedicated workshop with the oxygen-clean procedures, cryogenic-grade replacement parts and pressure testing capability required for return to liquefied gas service.
ESD valve response time — emergency shutoff valves must close within the time specified by the IGC Code and vessel safety management system. Periodic response time measurement verifies that actuator performance has not degraded to the point where the required closure time cannot be achieved.
Seat leakage on cargo isolation valves — increasing seat leakage on cargo tank isolation valves allows LNG or LPG vapour to migrate into adjacent systems, increasing boil-off losses and creating potential ignition hazard accumulation. Periodic leak testing of cargo isolation valves is a standard maintenance requirement.
Actuator air supply pressure — declining actuator air supply pressure in pneumatic ESD and cargo valve systems indicates system leakage — reducing the available force for valve operation and potentially compromising ESD function.
Fugitive emission monitoring — stem and body joint fugitive emissions from cargo valves are monitored by regulatory requirement on shore terminals and by good practice on tankers. Increasing fugitive emission rates indicate packing or gasket degradation requiring intervention.
Cryogenic valve thermal performance — cold spots on extended bonnets, frost patterns around valve bodies and temperature anomalies in insulation systems are visual indicators of cryogenic valve condition that can be assessed during routine rounds without valve operation.
Whether you are specifying NBS valves for a new LNG terminal or LPG storage facility, planning drydock valve maintenance for an LNG or LPG tanker, assessing ESD valve performance, or dealing with an urgent valve failure in liquefied gas service — BM TECH is ready to assist.
Contact NBS Europe:
Request Service Support Request a Spare Parts Quote Schedule a Valve Assessment Download NBS UNIFLOW/UNICON Technical Data
ASU cryogenic valve service — air separation units
LNG/LPG tanker and terminal cryogenic valve service
Chemical tanker IBC Code cargo valve service
PSA oxygen and nitrogen plant switching valve service
VPSA vacuum switching valve and bypass valve service
The IGC Code defines requirements for cargo valve materials, emergency shutoff function and pressure testing. Classification society survey requirements — typically at five-year drydock intervals — include inspection and testing of cargo isolation valves, ESD valves and remote operation systems. BM TECH provides valve maintenance services and documentation supporting IGC Code compliance and classification society survey.
Contact BM TECH at biuro@bmtech.eu or +48 695 557 331 with the vessel name, current and planned port call schedule, and a description of the valve issue or planned maintenance scope. We will advise on service availability at the planned port location and mobilisation arrangements.
An ESD valve that fails to close on demand in an emergency provides no cargo containment protection — the consequence in a fire or leak scenario is potential escalation of the incident. Classification society rules and the vessel’s Safety Management System define minimum ESD valve testing frequencies precisely because of this consequence. BM TECH provides ESD valve testing and maintenance services to keep vessels in compliance with these requirements.
For valves held in our European stock, yes — typically within one to two business days. For valves requiring sourcing from NBS Corporation in Japan, lead times are longer. BM TECH recommends that LNG terminal operators and vessel managers maintain a critical spare valve inventory for immediate response to failures in the most critical service positions. We advise on appropriate critical spare valve specifications for your installation.
Yes. Small-scale LNG distribution — satellite stations, virtual pipeline, bunkering — and biomethane LNG facilities use the same cryogenic valve technology as large-scale LNG terminals, at smaller scale. BM TECH provides valve supply and service for small-scale LNG infrastructure across Europe.