Norwegian firms to the fore in new LNG designs

Oslo: Norwegian firms are rushing out new LNG containment systems, potentially giving the membrane and Moss designs some competition in the future, especially for smaller gas ships.

American class society ABS during Nor-Shipping week granted Approval in Principle (AIP) to a new gas containment system concept designed in Norway by Brevik Technology, a Vard subsidiary.

The containment system uses a series of independent, cylindrical IMO Type-B tanks and for the AIP was designed for application in a gas carrier of 30,000 cbm.

ABS chairman, president and CEO Christopher Wiernicki noted: “Designers are increasingly looking to extend the gas carrier concept into new trades, serving new markets.”

Brevik reckons its design is 15 to 20% less expensive to construct than a membrane containment system.

ABS has also been selected to class a new design of medium-sized LNG carrier to be built in China for Landmark Capital.

The 45,000-cbm vessel, featuring self-supporting IMO Type-A tanks mounted within an insulated hold space, will be built in China, with an option for another vessel.

Last year, ABS completed an Approval in Principle for the LNT A-BOX gas containment system and will review the vessel design, survey the construction and class the ship for operation upon delivery, which is due in 2017.

Landmark Capital affiliate LNG New Technologies (LNT), with operations in Norway and Singapore, has developed the LNT A-BOX system. LNT intends to market the containment system to third-party shipyards that are looking to enter the LNG market.

“From the beginning our aim was to develop a simple and cost effective LNG containment system that could enable new shipyards especially those in China to build mid-sized LNG carriers,” said LNT’s managing director Kjetil Sjolie Strand.

“LNT A-BOX is designed to answer the need for a system that fills the gap between smaller ships with Type C tanks and those with larger membrane-type containment systems.”