LNG

Ascenz Marorka, the smart-shipping arm of French LNG maritime storage technology company GTT, has been granted an approval for cybersecurity for its digital solutions by France’s classification society Bureau Veritas.

“The technological evolution in the maritime sector has brought to the forefront significant risks associated with cyber-attacks, affecting the safety of individuals, the marine environment or everyone’s personal data,” said Ascenz Marorka.

“Faced with this reality, maritime companies need to adopt proactive protection measures and robust defence strategies to ensure the continuity and the safety of their operations,” stated the firm.

Resilience

GTT group said that the approval for cyber-security granted by Bureau Veritas highlighted the ability of the Ascenz Marorka solutions to meet the cyber-security challenges of the maritime sector with “resilience and reliability” after testing.

GTT said the smart-shipping unit benefited from the robust protection for its computer systems, encrypting the data used and was able to isolate the networks for the approved functionalities.

The Paris-based firm said that the approval demonstrated Ascenz Marorka’s commitment to helping build a sustainable future, while ensuring maximum cyber protection for its customers.

“The safety of our customers’ data is at the heart of our strategy. We are very proud of this approval, which reflects our commitment to protecting our customers’ operations,” said Anouar Kiassi, Managing Director of Ascenz Marorka.

“Having a trusted third party like Bureau Veritas certify our solution is the best proof we can offer our customers to show them how seriously we monitor and mitigate evolving cyber-risks,” declared Kiassi.

Bureau Veritas

Paul Delouche, the Advanced Services Director of Bureau Veritas, said that as a class society, Bureau Veritas was very pleased to find that key players in the maritime industry, such as Ascenz Marorka, were seeking certification to demonstrate their level of cybersecurity maturity.

The certification covers the Ascenz Marorka applications’ related requirements included in “NR467 Bureau Veritas Rules for the Classification of Steel Ships”, “NR659 Bureau Veritas Rules on Cyber Security or the Classification of marine units” and “IACS UR E27 Rev.1 (Sep 2023) Cyber resilience of on-board systems and equipment”.

Ascenz Marorka noted that with IACS UR E27 entering into force on July 1, 2024, the smart-shipping unit has successfully anticipated what many vendors would need to accomplish in the coming months.

“This certification rewards the exemplary commitment of Ascenz Marorka teams in strengthening their digital solutions and demonstrates Bureau Veritas’ readiness to promote cybersecurity as a catalyst for digitalization,” the company concluded.

French liquefied natural gas storage technology firm Gaztransport and Technigaz (GTT) reported a more than 17 percent increase in first-quarter revenues as the order book continued to build after a record year in 2022 and orders in the first three months for 25 LNG carriers.

Gaztransport and Technigaz (GTT), the French designer of LNG storage tanks for ships and for onshore, posted lower first-half revenues and income from technology licensing but received record orders for LNG carrier membrane tanks and many for Qatari vessels.

Gaztransport and Technigaz (GTT), the French designer of maritime liquefied natural gas storage and fuel tanks, has received another order from the Chinese Jiangnan shipyard as its busines in China gathers pace.

GTT said the latest order was for the cargo containment and cargo handling systems design fortwo large capacity LNG carriers.

As part of this order, GTT said it would provide the design and associated engineering services for the vessel’s tanks, which will each offer a capacity of 175,000 cubic metres.

The tanks will be fitted with the GTT Mark III Flex membrane containment system, a technology developed by GTT.

GTT added that the two vessels were scheduled for delivery in the first and second quarters of 2025.

“We are very pleased to accompany Jiangnan in a new phase of our collaboration, as these vessels are the first large LNG carriers to be built by Jiangnan shipyard,” said Philippe Berterottière, Chairman and Chief Executive of GTT.

“We will do whatever it takes to make this cooperation a great success,” added the CEO.

LNG growth

The Jiangnan shipbuilding business is one of China's larger shipyard facilities and is located northeast of Shanghai on Changxing Island at the mouth of the Yangtze River.

In mid-March 2022, GTT received an order from the Jiangnan shipyard for tank designs for four very large LNG-powered containerships on order for the leading Asian shipping company, Pacific International Lines.

Each vessel will be able to carry 14,000 20-feet equivalent units (TUE) containers and are scheduled to be delivered from the Chinese yard progressively from the second-half of 2024 through to the first half of 2025.

The LNG fuel tank of each vessel will offer a capacity of 13,800 cubic metres and will be fitted with the Mark III membrane containment system.

The tanks will also include unique features to facilitate a potential conversion of these vessels to ammonia fuel in the future.

In addition to the engineering services and on-site technical assistance, GTT explained that t would assist PIL through every step of their first LNG-fuelled project.

GTT said this would include commissioning of the LNG tanks, first LNG bunkering operations, as well as further specific LNG operations and maintenance of the vessels.

French liquefied natural gas storage technology firm Gaztranzport and Technigaz (GTT) reported a more than 20 percent drop in revenues in 2021 and net income was down over 32 percent as contracts for 27 newbuilds and a substantial order book failed to boost the bottom line because of timings.

French maritime storage technology firm GTT has received an order from its partner, the South Korean shipyard Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), for the fuel tank designs for five LNG-fuelled container vessels.

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.

Gaztransport & Technigaz, the French technology and engineering company for LNG storage, said demand continued on an upward trend led by Asia with orders to equip 41 LNG carriers, though GTT did not receive any orders in 2020 for LNG fuel tanks for shipping.

GTT said annual net income from licensing and royalties for its technology rose by 38.7 percent to €198.86 million ($241M) from €143.35M in 2019.

Annual revenues increased by more than 37 percent to €396.37M from €288.22M in the previous year.

At year-end, GTT said its outstanding order book comprised designs for 147 units, comprising 122 LNG carriers, nine ethane carriers, six onshore storage tanks, four floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs), two floating storage units (FSUs), one floating production hull and three gravity-based structures for Novatek’s Arctic LNG II project.

GTT said that regarding LNG as fuel, including the deliveries of a bunker vessel and four ultra-large container ships for French containers shipping line CMA CGM, the number of vessels in the order book stood at 14 units.

“With regard to LNG as fuel, GTT did not receive orders in 2020, due mainly to the low number of new ships being built,” explained GTT Chairman and Chief Executive, Philippe Berterottière.

“However, CMA CGM’s first LNG-powered ships have been delivered; they will be the new flagships of the merchant navy,” added Berterottière.

“I would point out that the adoption of LNG as fuel by merchant ships is of crucial importance from the perspective of reducing CO2 emissions, since this fuel makes it possible to immediately reduce them by 20 to 25 percent and eliminate most other polluting emissions,” stated the CEO.

GTT noted in its highlights of 2020 orders that one came from Russian State Transport Leasing Company (GTLK) through South Korean shipyard Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering.

The scope is to design tanks for two floating LNG storage units (FSUs), the largest units ever built with 361,600 cubic metres capacity.

“These two FSUs will contribute to the Yamal and Arctic LNG 2 projects of Russian LNG producer Novatek,” added GTT.

The French firm is also building its services business and received two key orders, one from Excelerate Energy of the US to assist Excelerate Technical Management with the maintenance and operation of nine FSRUs equipped with GTT’s No. 96 tanks.

A similar deal was signed with Norwegian LNG carrier fleet owner Knutsen OAS Shipping AS. This contract will cover a fleet of 17 vessels by 2022, 12 currently in service and five under construction, all equipped with Mark III Flex or No. 96 tanks.

GTT was confident about market development for 20121 and beyond.

“After three years marked by numerous commercial successes, the order book for the main activity is at a high level,” said GTT.

“In contrast to the two previous years, most of the orders for 2020 are for an extended time horizon that gives GTT visibility through 2025,” it added.

“These orders will not generate significant additional revenue in 2021. The order book corresponds to revenue of €640M over the period 2021 to 2025,” it added.

In addition, GTT continues its research and development efforts, including, more patent registration and IT developments.

On the basis of these items and their extra costs, the company is forecasting 2021 consolidated revenues within a range of €285M to €315M.

Gaztransport and Technigaz (GTT), the French technology designer of LNG maritime and onshore storage systems, reported a 74 percent rise in first-quarter revenues as orders were solid and it began expanding its services offerings.

Gaztransport and Technigaz (GTT), the Paris-based technology firm for designs of systems for the maritime transportation and storage of liquefied natural gas, has hired French high-flier Eric Dehouck for the newly-created post of Deputy Chief Executive.