Jiangnan Shipyard Granted AIP for Two New Gas Carrier Designs

China’s Jiangnan Shipyard has received an Approval in Principle (AIP) for two next generation gas carrier designs from classification society ABS.

The AIP was granted for a 91,000 m3 very large gas carrier (VLGC) Panda 91Tdesign and for the “BrilliancE”, a new 99,000 m3 Type B very large ethane carrier (VLEC) Bluebonnet design.

Designed to be efficient and more environmentally friendly, the VLEC design features the Type B Cargo Containment System “BrilliancE” developed by Jiangnan.

The VLGC design is intended for long-distance, large-scale gas transportation, featuring enhanced cargo capacity and greater efficiency compared to conventional ships. The VLGC is a tailored design for North America and China routes, which meet U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) requirements. ABS has previously facilitated the AIP of the BrilliancE tank concept in a very large ethane carrier cargo containment with USCG.

“By working with ABS to secure these AIPs, we have laid the groundwork for the introduction of these types of vessel to the market,” Hu Keyi, Chief of Global Technology, Jiangnan Shipyard (Group), said.

“Thanks to the design philosophy of the “BrilliancE” type B tank developed for the VLEC “Bluebonnet” together with ABS, Jiangnan has sufficient confidence to revolutionize the hull configuration of a traditional VLGC,” Keyi said, noting that the new designs reduce emissions.