LNG

Ascenz Marorka, a subsidiary of French storage tanks technology company GTT, has been awarded two contracts by the Chinese natural gas and LNG player, the JOVO Group, to provide two LNG carriers with smart-shipping equipment.

JOVO is based in Guangdong province of southern China where it is one of the main suppliers of LNG and other fuels in the Pearl River Delta area.

The Chinese company is involved in LNG importing, trading and the city-gas business as well as pipeline gas deliveries and natural gas filling stations for vehicles.

GTT smart-shipping unit Ascenz Marorka has emerged from the joint branding of Singapore-based Ascenz and Icelandic firm Marorka, which was acquired by GTT.

These contracts for JOVO’s two LNG carriers cover the installation of automatic data collection systems and software for managing and optimising the energy and environmental performance of the ships.

Voyage management

“Crew on board and personnel ashore will benefit from a comprehensive set of modules such as voyage management, LNG cargo optimisation, machinery optimisation, trim optimisation and fuel monitoring,” said GTT.

“In addition, JOVO will also benefit from exclusive LNG features developed through GTT’s unique expertise such as LNG cargo monitoring, boil-off gas management and heel optimisation,” stated the Paris-based parent company.

“We are honoured by the trust that JOVO places in us to support them on their journey towards digitalisation, operational optimisation and effective decarbonisation,” said Anouar Kiassi, Vice-President of Digital and Information at GTT.

“We are delighted to work hand in hand with a shipowner committed to operational and environmental excellence,” stated Kiassi.

Lu Yuan, Managing Director of LNG International Business for the JOVO Group, said the company was delighted to extend its cooperation with GTT and Ascenz Marorka.

“The deployment of these innovative and unique solutions and services on board our LNG carriers will enable us to better operate our vessels, unload larger volumes of LNG cargoes, improve general safety, assist crews in their demanding tasks and achieve our environmental goals,” Lu declared.

French liquefied natural gas storage technology firm Gaztranzport and Technigaz (GTT) is expanding business in China and has received an order from its Chinese shipyard partner Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding for the tank design of a new LNG carrier.

The order was made on behalf of the leasing unit of China State Shipbuilding Corp. (CSSC) for a vessel with capacity of 174,000 cubic metres capacity.

“As part of this order, GTT will design the tanks of the vessel, which will be fitted with the GTT No. 96 L03-plus membrane containment system,” said GTT.

The newbuild carrier is scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2024.

GTT received a previous order in September 2021 for a first storage system design for an LNG carrier from China's Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai.

The order was for the cargo-handling storage system for an LNG carrier being built for Chinese energy company, the Jovo Group.

The Jovo vessel is a mid-sized LNG carrier to be added to the company's fleet.

GTT said it would design the tanks with a cargo capacity 79,800 cubic metres.

That mid-sized order is for a customized “China Max” carrier and is a key part of Jovo’s sourcing strategy that paves the way for future shipping developments.

The carrier would be fitted with the GTT’s Mark III Flex membrane containment system and would be the first built in China with the Mark III technology series.

The vessel is scheduled to be delivered to the Jovo Group in the fourth quarter of 2023.

French liquefied natural gas storage technology firm Gaztranzport and Technigaz (GTT) has expanded business in China by receiving a first storage system order for an LNG carrier from Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai.