Press Release: GTT and Dalian Shipbuilding Industry received approval in principle (AiP) from Lloyd’s Register (LR) for their 30,000m³ B-FREE LNG carrier design in a ceremony at Marintec China.
The spread of invasive species is recognised as one of the greatest threats to the ecological and economic well-being of the planet and this new design could provide a ballast-free shipping solution.
The innovative design has several advantages over conventional designs (based on Type C cargo tanks and using ballast), combining environmentally-friendly features with increased efficiency as well as predicted lower build and operating costs.
Savings in build cost are expected through the avoidance of fitting a ballast water treatment system (BWTS) and not having to comply with the Performance Standard for Protective Coatings (PSPC) for ballast tanks, ballast piping, pumps and values. Operational savings should be seen from not having to, for example, run and maintain a BWTS, ballast systems and maintain ballast tank coatings. Initial predictions also show lower fuel consumption compared to ‘standard’ designs as well as lower LNG boil-off due to the GTT membrane, compared to a Type C tank.
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