Gaztransport and Technigaz (GTT), the French LNG storage technology company, and South Korea’s Samsung Heavy Industries have received an approval from UK maritime classification society Lloyd’s Register for a new design of GTT’s three-tank concept.
The new design is for a new LNG carrier featuring GTT’s three-tank Mark III Flex membrane containment system, which will also allow for the reduction in the length of vessels.
This approval in principle is the result of a Joint Development Project initiated in 2022 and aimed at designing a new generation of LNG vessels.
Analysts note that about 30 years ago, GTT upgraded LNG carriers from five storage tanks to four tanks and the company now hopes to bring the market forward with a three-tank LNG carrier.
GTT explained that the three-tank LNG carrier concept permits an increase in LNG cargo capacity and improves maintenance efficiencies through the suppression of one cofferdam, one pump tower and all associated cryogenic equipment.
The Paris-based company added that the design also improved the ratio between the volume of LNG transported and the surface area of the cryogenic liner.
GTT explained that this would make it possible to achieve a boil-off rate as low as 0.080 percent of tank volume per day with the Mark III Flex technology compared with 0.085 percent of the volume per day with the LNG ships currently in operation (of 174,000 cubic metres capacity).
Loading
“In addition, this three-tank LNGC design provides an almost equivalent loading time as a standard four-tank LNGC configuration, thanks to an adapted pump tower,” said the company.
“In addition to these benefits, the removal of a cofferdam, pump tower and its associated equipment reduces the weight of the ship,” it added.
Philippe Berterottière, Chairman and Chief Executive of GTT, said he was proud to be granted this approval from Lloyd’s Register alongside its long-standing ship-building partner SHI.
“We are convinced that this development will benefit all players in the maritime sector by improving the performance of LNG carriers,” stated Berterottière.
Youngkyu Ahn, Vice President of the Shipbuilding Engineering Division of SHI, said the design was expected to increase cargo capacity, minimize operating costs, optimize maintenance efficiency and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.
“This achievement is a remarkable step in the pursuit of even more innovative vessel designs, and it is with conviction that we pledge to continue to explore and develop innovative designs in the future,” he stated.
Lloyd’s Register said it was focused on innovating to improve efficiency and safety and had reached “another important stage” in its collaboration with SHI and GTT.
“We are pleased to award this AiP, which marks an important step forward for LNG owners, who will now have the opportunity to reduce the length of their vessels and maximise cargo-carrying potential with this optimised design,” declared Young-Doo Kim, a senior executive of Lloyd’s Register in North-East Asia.
