LNG

Gaztransport and Technigaz (GTT), the French LNG storage technology company for shipping and onshore, said it was chosen by two major European LNG ship-owners to equip a total of three vessels with its predictive maintenance solution, the Sloshing Virtual Sensor.

This unique digital technology is dedicated to the assessment of sloshing activity to extend the cargo tank entry period.

GTT explained that the system uses the tank digital twin, designed by GTT, and the vessel’s real-time operational data to monitor the evolution of critical tank integrity parameters.

“Combined with an appropriate risk analysis, ship-owners and charterers are able to optimise the tank maintenance while complying with strict safety standards, improving operational flexibility and making significant cost savings,” said the Paris-based company.

STASCO validation

Earlier this year, GTT received an Approval in Principle (AiP) for this technology from UK classification society Lloyd’s Register following the extensive validation work carried out in close collaboration with Shell International Trading and Shipping Company (STASCO).

“Following the technical approval by the AiP, these contracts represent the commercial validation of the value that our customers see in the Sloshing Virtual Sensor,” said Philippe Berterottière, Chairman and Chief Executive of GTT.

“We are convinced that this technology will become an industry standard,” stated the CEO.

GTT also recently announced the creation a new brand from smart-shipping subsidiaries based in Singapore and Iceland.

The brand merger of the units is under the name Ascenz Marorka, taking the name of the Singaporean company Ascenz and the Europe-based Marorka.

GTT acquired Marorka, a smart-shipping company based in Iceland with services much sought by the LNG industry, in February 2020.

Marorka was bought from its owners and management team for an undisclosed sum.

The company designs maritime energy monitoring and optimization systems for vessels allowing them to reduce their environmental footprint and also provides other benefits.

The Icelandic company’s systems were at the time of its acquisition by GTT installed on more than 600 vessels.

Marorka was purchased as a good technical, commercial and geographical complement to the Far East smart-shipping unit Ascenz .

The American Bureau of Shipping, the US maritime classification society, as issued its 2023 strategy message at the annual ABS Advisory Council Meeting which also included presentations from the US Maritime Administration (MARAD) and the US Coast Guard.

Gaztransport and Technigaz (GTT), the French designer of LNG storage tanks for ships and for onshore, has been granted approval from UK maritime classification society Lloyds Register for its digital prediction technology for regasification operations involving floating LNG facilities.

European classification society DNV has granted an initial approval to Norwegian company Passer Marine for the development of a new LNG fuel tank insulation system suitable for Type-B fuel tanks.

The new Passer Marine concept is designed for prismatic Type-B LNG tanks, which according to International Maritime Organisation rules require a partial secondary barrier.

The Passer Marine equipment includes a leakage detection system capable of safely managing and containing fuel leaks.

“The system we have developed is cost-effective and production-friendly,” said Svein Konradsen, Chief Operating officer of Passer Marine.

“The pandemic has been challenging for many companies and for the development of this particular design,” explained Konradsen.

“The required testing has been difficult to finalize due to interruptions and limited possibilities to travel, but finally we have been able to submit the necessary documentation which I am very pleased to say was accepted by DNV,” he stated.

Konradsen said the Approval In Principle (AiP) from DNV was a boost for the company in the storage tanks equipment market. 

As LNG-fueled vessels are increasingly being deployed for deep-sea shipping, fuel tank sizes need to increase from 300-1,000 cubic metres of fuel capacity to up to 10,000-20,000 cubic metre, which leaves less room for cargo.

“As such, there is increased industry interest in alternative fuel tanks, known as Type-B, which are prismatic in shape and more volume efficient than traditional cylindrical Type-C tanks,” explained Passer Marine, which has offices in Norway, Lithuania and China.

“Between 95 and 99 percent of LNG-fueled ships contain Type-C fuel tanks, but many newbuilds on order contain Type-B specifications,” the company added.

Monika Johannessen, a Head of Department at Hamburg, Germany-based DNV Maritime, explained the thinking behind the initial approval of the Passer Marine tanks insulation.

“There are several insulation concepts under development that provide an integrated secondary barrier and leakage detection system, but there are few proven systems available on the market,” said Johannessen.

“We are pleased that Passer Marine has chosen DNV to pursue verification for this innovative concept and look forward to receiving the documentation for full approval,” she stated.

An AiP is widely recognized in the industry as an early phase verification level for new design concepts or for existing designs in new applications.

The approval issued by DNV is an independent assessment of a concept according to an agreed requirement framework within DNV rules, notations and regulations.

Gaztransport and Technigaz (GTT), the French LNG storage technology company, has developed a new and updated version of its classic No. 96 cargo containment tank.

The shipbuilding unit of Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has been granted approval for a liquefied natural gas fuel gas supply system (FGSS) for marine four-stroke, dual-fuel engines.

The American Bureau of Shipping, the US maritime classification society, has granted approval to a deepwater floating liquefied natural gas production hull designed by Hyundai Heavy Industries of South Korea.

The American Bureau of Shipping, the US maritime classification society, built on its position as the principal classifier for Chinese LNG shipbuilders by granting approval to a new LNG carrier design at the Jiangnan Shipyard Group of Shanghai.