LNG

Silverstream Technologies, the London-based leader in air lubrication technology, has signed a deal with China Merchants Energy Shipping (CMES) to install its system on four Chinese LNG newbuilds being constructed at the Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company (DSIC) yard in northeast China.

Gaztransport and Technigaz (GTT), the French designer of maritime liquefied natural gas storage and fuel tanks, has won approval from France’s classification society Bureau Veritas for a new ballast-free LNG bunker and feeder vessel.

GTT said it gained approval in principle from Bureau Veritas for the “Shear-Water” ballast-free concept.

“The majority of merchant vessels worldwide use ballast water when they are empty or partially loaded to maintain seaworthy conditions,” explained GTT.

“Therefore, a considerable quantity of ballast water is carried by ships every day. Even when ballast water is treated, there is a risk of transferring harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens from one area to another,” it noted.

“The solution developed by GTT eliminates this risk completely. In addition, removing the ballast water treatment system also reduces the energy consumption and CO2 footprint of the vessels,” added GTT.

GTT said that its “Shear-Water” concept was based on the currently proven vessel of 18,700 cubic metres capacity with two membrane tanks.

“The design also features a new hull shape, in a ‘V’, which differs from the standard square shaped mid-ship sections traditionally used for LNG carriers,” said GTT.

Hamburg testing

The Paris-based company explained that “an exhaustive testing campaign” has been carried out at the HSVA Hamburg (Germany) tank test facility in connection with power-speed, manoeuvrability and general seaworthiness.

“A sloshing test campaign has also been carried out by GTT to ensure the technical feasibility of the project and the excellent results obtained helped approve the concept,” added GTT.

Previous Approvals in Principle for the “Shear-Water” concept have been received from the China Classification Society and the European class society DNV.

“We are proud to have developed ‘Shear-Water’, an innovative ballast-free design for LNG bunker and feeder vessels,” said GTT Chairman and Chief Executive Philippe Berterottière.

“This new technological solution allows a reduction in investment and operating costs, simpler operations as well as a reduction in corrosion supporting a longer service life,” he added.

Mathieu De Tugny, Vice-President of Bureau Veritas, said the GTT design had clear performance and environmental benefits.

“These include less onboard equipment, easier maintenance of the void spaces surrounding the cargo and reduced propulsion power requirements,” added De Tugny.

“Bureau Veritas has monitored and reviewed all the test results performed to support its approval in principle,” he stated.

Lloyd's Register, the UK maritime classification society, has signed an agreement with a group of six Chinese companies to design and develop an LNG carrier with membrane-type containment tanks with total capacities of 220,000 cubic metres.

Wison Offshore and Marine, the Chinese company whose shipyard affiliate has expertise in the floating LNG sector, has signed a cooperation agreement that could lead to China building more floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs) to act as import facilities.