GTT announces that it has received, on October 1st, an Approval in Principle (AiP) from ClassNK for its innovative 30,000 m³ LNG carrier design, which features two identical tanks equipped with GTT's Mark III Flex membrane containment system. This AiP confirms the feasibility and potential of this concept, combining operational flexibility with enhanced economic performance for unrestricted global operations.
Thanks to their intermediate size, the 30,000 m³ LNG carrier is particularly suited for transporting liquefied natural gas to regional markets or terminals with limited capacity. They offer an ideal compromise between optimized cargo capacity and operational flexibility, while keeping operating costs under control.
The new design employs an advanced tank configuration with increased dimensions of the lower chamfers and applies the "Ballast-Split" principle. The ballast tank system is divided into lower bottom and separated upper-side tanks, which improves vessel stability across all operating conditions. During ballasting operations, water is first pumped into the upper ballast tanks, reducing the metacentric height while maintaining stability, thus lowering roll acceleration. This configuration mitigates sloshing loads effectively, particularly in low filling modes, which is crucial for feeder transportation.
Extensive studies, including a comprehensive liquid motion analysis, have demonstrated the positive effects of this design. By reducing sloshing loads on the cargo containment system, this approach enables unrestricted filling levels and removes the need for filling limits typically required by strength assessments.
