French player’s new LNG carrier design gets the go-ahead as deal for eight dual-fuel tankers comes its way

French technological containment specialist Gaztransport & Technigaz (GTT) has obtained a stamp of approval from Japan’s classification society ClassNK for its 30,000 cubic meters (cbm) membrane-type liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier design. In addition, a deal for eight LNG dual-fuel Suezmax vessels with Maran Tankers, the oil tanker shipping arm of the Angelicoussis Group, has also landed on the firm’s table.

The approval in principle (AiP) from ClassNK, which GTT sees as a confirmation of the feasibility and potential of its 30,000 cbm LNG carrier design concept, features two identical tanks equipped with the firm’s Mark III Flex membrane containment system, that the French player claims combines operational flexibility with enhanced economic performance for unrestricted global operations.

The firm believes its 30,000 cbm LNG carrier is particularly suited for transporting liquefied natural gas to regional markets or terminals with limited capacity due to intermediate size, offering “an ideal compromise between optimized cargo capacity and operational flexibility, while keeping operating costs under control.”

Employing an advanced tank configuration with increased dimensions of the lower chamfers, the new design applies the ‘ballast-split’ principle as the ballast tank system is divided into lower bottom and separated upper-side tanks, which is interpreted to improve vessel stability across all operating conditions.

Moreover, water is first pumped into the upper ballast tanks during ballasting operations to reduce the metacentric height while maintaining stability, and lowering roll acceleration to mitigate sloshing loads effectively, particularly in low-filling modes, which is seen as crucial for feeder transportation.

“Extensive studies, including a comprehensive liquid motion analysis, have demonstrated the positive effects of this design. By reducing sloshing loads on the cargo containment system, this approach enables unrestricted filling levels and removes the need for filling limits typically required by strength assessments,” explained GTT.

The AiP comes on the heels of the two the French firm received for advancements in its Mark III multifuel-ready membrane containment system and the new 200,000 cubic meter LNG carrier concept – issued by classification societies ABS, Bureau Veritas (BV), and Lloyd’s Register (LR).

Meanwhile, GTT inked a technical services contract with Maran Tankers for their upcoming eight LNG dual-fuel Suezmax vessels, ordered in 2023 at New Times Shipyard in China. Even though the future vessels will not be equipped with its systems, the firm underlines that Maran Tankers has chosen to collaborate with it due to its expertise in the performance and safety of LNG dual-fuel vessels.

Jean-Baptiste Choimet, Chief Executive Officer of GTT, noted: “We appreciate the trust Maran Tankers places in GTT to bring our expertise to the optimal operation of these LNG-powered vessels. This contract illustrates our commitment to supporting the maritime industry’s transition towards sustainable and efficient practices.“

Aside from assisting Maran Tankers in independently reviewing the fuel gas supply system (FGSS), the contract entails a thorough review of key documents and participation in the risk assessment process. The French firm’s involvement will primarily focus on the engine supply system via fuel pumps and compressors and boil-off gas (BOG) management via compressors and sub-coolers.

Mark Pearson, Managing Director of Maran Tankers, pointed out: “The Angelicoussis Group actively adopts innovative solutions to minimize emissions and optimize the efficiency and safety of their fleets. We welcome this collaboration with GTT to further support the top performance and sustainability of our eight new LNG dual-fuel Suezmax vessels.”

The new contract follows orders from Korean and Chinese shipyards for tank designs for four new liquefied natural gas carriers. Before that, another tank design order was received from China’s Hudong-Zhonghua for a new LNG bunkering vessel being built for Ibaizabal’s Ondimar Transportes Marítimos.