GTT lands tank design deal for new TotalEnergies-chartered LNG bunkering vessel

French technological containment specialist Gaztransport & Technigaz (GTT) has secured a new tank design order from Chinese shipyard Hudong-Zhonghua for a new LNG bunkering vessel being built for Ondimar Transportes Marítimos, a company of Spanish Ibaizabal Group.

The order for the tank design of the new LNG bunkering vessel marks Ondimar’s first order for a vessel equipped with a membrane containment system developed by GTT.

The vessel, which will have a total capacity of 18,600 cubic meters (cbm), is planned to be chartered by French energy giant TotalEnergies.

This 135.9-meter-long and 24.5-meter-wide LNG bunkering vessel is scheduled for delivery at the end of 2026.

The tanks to be delivered by GTT will feature the company’s Mark III Flex membrane containment system developed by GTT and are expected to introduce significant improvements in terms of vessel performance with a guaranteed daily boil-off rate of 0,16% of vessel volume as well as CO2 emissions reduction compared with the Gas Agility and Gas Vitality vessels, both chartered by TotalEnergies.

Jean-Baptiste Choimet, Chief Executive Officer of GTT, said: “We are very proud to receive this new order, which reflects our partners’ continued trust in our technology, and honored to be partnering with Ibaizabal Group for the first time on the LNG Bunkering segment.This project highlights the versatility and efficiency of our Mark III Flex membrane system for LNG bunkering operations and supports the maritime industry’s transition to cleaner energy sources.”

Jorge Zickermann, Chief Executive Officer of Ibaizabal Group, added: “Ibaizabal is honoured to be chosen to carry out this project as it falls within our strategy of decarbonizing the maritime industry, together with a leading company in the LNG field, while enhancing the already long-term relationship in shipping with TotalEnergies.”

Chartering the newbuild LNG bunkering vessel falls within TotalEnergies’ multi-energy strategy with multi-billion dollar investments as the company works on balancing the transition to low-carbon and green sources of supply and the attempts to fortify energy security scales.

The energy player noted that LNG, which has been seen as a transitional marine fuel, helps cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by around 20% compared to conventional marine fuel.