French LNG containment giant GTT has received approvals from classification society BV for its new cargo containment systems developed for ethane transport.
BV granted AiPs for GTT’s Mark III Slim and NO96 Slim containment systems.
Building on its Mark III and NO96 membrane technologies, GTT has developed these variants specifically to accommodate the physical properties of petrochemical cargoes.
According to GTT, these optimizations support shipowners to maximize cargo capacity and optimize construction costs for very large ethane carriers (VLEC) and ultra large ethane carriers (ULEC).
In addition to ethane, these new systems are also suitable for transporting LPG, ethylene, butane, propane, and propylene, offering shipyards and shipowners a versatile solution in response to growing demand for dedicated ethane carriers, GTT said.
GTT said the key advantages of the new system include increased tank capacity, lower costs, and faster construction.
The firm noted that by reducing insulation thickness by 70 mm, usable tank volume is increased by more than 1,000 cbm for an equivalent ship size, while simplified anchoring systems, lighter panels and caissons, and the use of new steel alloys streamline fabrication and reduce shipyard time.
Membrane tank design for LNG-powered vessels
GTT also announced in a separate statement that it has received AiP from classification society DNV for its membrane tank design rated for 1 barg, suitable for LNG dual-fuel vessels.
This approval extends the operating range of the Mark III technology, following DNV’s AiP for a 2 barg design pressure on smaller-capacity tanks, notably suited to cruise vessels.
According to the French firm, key benefits of this design include extended pressure-holding time, warmer-temperature bunkering, and cold-ironing compliance.
Gtt said that increasing the design pressure “significantly lengthens the time before the tank reaches its maximum pressure, greatly reducing the need to burn boil-off gas during periods of low engine load.”
The firm noted that vessels fitted with these tanks can load LNG at warmer temperatures, giving operators access to a broader range of LNG suppliers, while the enhanced pressure capacity will enable LNG-powered vessels to comply with upcoming cold ironing regulations at the quayside without compromising tank integrity.
GTT received orders for nine LNG carriers, seven very large ethane carriers, and 12 LNG-powered containerships in the first quarter.
The company’s revenue rose 31.6 percent compared to the same period last year.