French cryogenic cargo containment technology firm GTT has received two approvals in principle (AiP) for its three-tank LNG tanker design for its Mark III and NO96 technologies, from DNV and Bureau Veritas
The three-tank LNG carrier concept reduces construction costs by suppressing one cofferdam, one pump tower and associated cryogenic equipment – liquid and gas domes, valves, piping, radars, etc.
This is expected to reduce the overall surface area of the containment system by about 2,000 m², generating lower costs for the materials and vessel construction.
At the same time, the improved ratio between the volume of LNG transported and the surface area of the cryogenic liner will reduce the daily boil-off rate. As an example, GTT estimates it will achieve a boil-off rate as low as 0.080% of tank volume per day with the Mark III Flex technology, compared with 0.085% of the volume per day with the LNG carriers currently in operation.
GTT chairman and chief executive Philippe Berterottière said, “Thirty years ago, we upgraded LNG carriers from five to four tanks and we now hope to bring the market forward with a three-tank LNG carrier. We hope to see this concept become standard in future years.”
The company continues to grow its tank design backlog, adding orders for 20 LNG carriers in October. In the first half of the year, GTT reported orders for 88 LNG carriers and 38 tank designs for LNG-fuelled vessels, building on the momentum that began in 2021 with orders for 137 LNG carriers and 32 tank designs for LNG-fuelled vessels.
