French LNG containment giant GTT has signed a technical assistance and license agreement with China’s largest private shipyard, Yangzijiang Shipbuilding, enabling the yard to construct vessels using GTT membrane technologies.
Yangzijiang successfully completed the GTT qualification process in record time, as the first validation steps began in March 2022, according to a statement by GTT.
The shipbuilder has already secured an order for four 8,000 TEU dual-fueled container vessels from Singapore’s Pacific International Lines.
The vessels feature GTT’s membrane technology for the LNG fuel tanks.
Also, each LNG fuel tank will have the Mark III membrane containment technology and include unique features to facilitate a potential conversion of these vessels to ammonia-fuel, giving the owner a greater operational flexibility should environmental regulations change.
Yangzijiang plans to deliver the four vessels in each quarter of 2025.
GTT’s boss Philippe Berterottière welcomed the new agreement with Yangzijiang.
“In a tight market, this new partnership will provide new shipbuilding capacities to meet current demand. We look forward to a long and successful collaboration with our new partner,” he said.