Natural gas supply apparatus

This invention relates to apparatus for supplying natural gas fuel for the purpose of heating the boilers of tankers that transport liquefied natural gas (LNG). Apparatus for supplying natural gas fuel to heat the boilers of an ocean-going tanker for the transport of liquefied natural gas (LNG) comprises a compressor having an inlet communicating with the ullage space of at least one LNG storage tank and an outlet communicating with a conduit leading from the compressor to fuel burners associated with the boilers, and a forced LNG vaporiser having an inlet communicating with a liquid storage region of the said tank and an outlet communicating with the same or a different conduit leading to fuel burners associated with the boilers.