LNG

French LNG storage technology company GTT Group said its smart shipping unit Ascenz Marorka had been selected to provide advanced weather routing solutions for Monaco-based Greek company Latsco Shipping with a fleet of 36 vessels.

Latsco’s fleet mainly comprises chemical and liquefied petroleum gas vessels.

The accord will equip eight Latsco vessels with the Ascenz Marorka monitoring after a comprehensive market analysis and an extensive one-year testing phase on two of Latsco’s ships.

Optimal routes

Ascenz Marorka explained that the weather routing solution defines optimal shipping routes by integrating multiple operational, economic and environmental variables, while taking into account a wide range of operational and regulatory constraints.

This solution is compatible with various vessel types and propulsion systems, regardless of the fuel source chosen.

Latsco already uses the Ascenz Marorka Sloshield and Smart Shipping solutions to monitor in real time sloshing activity inside LNG cargo tanks by fixed motion sensors as well as boil-off performance of the containment system during operations.

Ascenz Marorka’s platform allows technical operators to monitor the performance of various systems such as the cargo or reliquefaction plants.

It also provides guidance to avoid roll-over when loading LNG of different densities

“We are honoured by the trust that Latsco places in us to support them in their journey towards digitalisation,” said Anouar Kiassi, Managing Director of Ascenz Marorka.

“We are delighted to work hand in hand with a ship-owner who values technology and innovation to achieve major decarbonisation goals,” he added.

Assessment

George Mavrogenis, Marine Manager of Latsco, said the Ascenz Marorka platform's features were thoroughly assessed for deliverables and ease of application.

“We evaluated its operational and safety navigation aspects, confirming it integrates seamlessly into daily practices, ensuring both efficiency and safety in our maritime operations” he stated.

Iasonas Zacharioudakis, Operational Technology and Energy Manager of Latsco, said he was impressed with the structured and thorough evaluation process, developed with Ascenz Marorka, to test new technologies.

“This process aimed to assess accurately the capabilities of this promising technology, considering the significant challenges in modelling ship navigation,” Zacharioudakis explained.

“Our goal is to enhance sustainability, improve environmental operations and optimise our environmental footprint,” he added.

Gaztransport and Technigaz (GTT), the French LNG storage technology company, has increased its annual list of patent applications made to the Patent and Trademark Office in France, l’Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle.

The GTT group said it filed a total of 64 patents in 2023, an increase compared with 2022, thus maintaining its position as a technological leader in the category of intermediate-sized enterprises (ETIs) in France.

With 61 patents filed with the INPI, GTT said it secured the second position in the 2023 INPI ranking of patent-filing ETIs.

GTT also filed three more patents with the European Patent Office (EPO) in 2023.

Broadening technology

The group’s order book has designs for GTT storage and conventional carriers and containment tanks for LNG-powered vessels.

GTT’s earnings come from its technology licensing, hence the importance of the patents pipeline.

“Over the past decade, GTT's technological solutions have played a significant role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from LNG carriers and optimizing the energy performance of its ship-owner clients,” explained the Paris-based company.

GTT’s core business has been centred around designs for tanks such as the Mark III membrane containment system.

However, GTT said it was now implementing an “ambitious innovation roadmap” in its adjacent markets and in its digital activities, as well as in the field of “zero-carbon” solutions at the subsidiary Elogen.

“With 61 patents filed with INPI and three patents filed with the European Patent Office, 2023 confirms the group's position of excellence in innovation and R&D and underlines GTT's technological stance,” said Philippe Berterottière, Chairman and Chief Executive of GTT.

“I would like to extend my congratulations to Soitec for claiming the top spot in 2023 with 62 patents filed in France, and I am pleased to witness the dynamic technological innovation among French mid-sized companies,” stated Berterottière.

He was referring to France's Soitec SA, a company that is involved in the microelectronics industry, designing and manufacturing innovative semiconductor materials.

It was also previously well known for licensing the patents for organisations such as French Atomic Energy Commission.

A study involving UK maritime classification society Lloyd’s Register, Shell International Trading and Shipping Co. and French liquefied natural gas storage technology company GGT Group has concluded that inspection intervals for LNG carrier membrane tanks could be safely extended due to monitoring technology and predictive maintenance.

Ascenz Marorka, the smart-shipping arm of LNG maritime storage technology company GTT, has signed a contract with Global Ship Lease (GSL), a leading independent owner of container vessels to roll out its shipping systems across the GSL fleet.