Five companies team up on LNG-fueled VLCC JDP

Classification society Lloyd’s Register (LR) teamed up with China Merchants, GTT, CNOOC and DSIC to design an LNG-fuelled Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC).

China Merchants Energy Shipping (CMES), CNOOC Gas and Power Group, Dalian Shipbuilding Industry (DSIC), GazTransport and Technigaz SA (GTT) and Lloyd’s Register have signed the agreement for a joint development project (JDP) that will evaluate design options for an LNG-fuelled VLCC that uses a prismatic GTT Mark III membrane LNG tank.

The scope of the JDP includes reviewing solutions to minimize construction costs for LNG-fuelled ships, while ensuring operational flexibility and efficiency, with the location of tanks as well as tank sizes to allow for round trip voyages under consideration.

LR will conduct a risk assessment and review the design in accordance with the latest regulatory requirements and will ensure it meets LR’s Rules to issue an Approval in Principle.

Wang Yongxin, president CMES, said, “With serials of new technology development projects such as sail-assisted VLCC, Intelligent VLCC and LNG-fuelled VLCC R&D, CMES is taking the positive response together with other participating units in the implementation of the international ecological and environmental protection.”

Mark Darley, LR’s North Asia President, said,“with the Global Marine industry looking towards carbon reduction and ultimately decarbonization, this JDP marks an important milestone in the journey that the industry is now taking. Through this JDP we look forward to jointly working with the key stakeholders in this innovative development proposed to bring technological advancements to the industry.”