Deltamarin, Arista Shipping, ABS and GTT announce Project Forward, a joint development project to equip the dry bulk carriers of the future with LNG propulsion, Deltamarin said in its press release.
The project, led by Athens-based bulk carrier owner Arista Shipping, began officially in May this year. The aim is to develop a commercially feasible LNG-powered dry bulk carrier design capable of complying with International Maritime Organization’s Energy Efficiency Design Index 2025 standards, NOx Tier III and Marpol Annex VI SOx emission levels.
The concept design will be based on the highly-optimised Deltamarin B.Delta design suitable for ships between 82,000 and 210,000dwt. It will employ GTT’s membrane-type LNG tanks for fuel containment. “Compliance with stricter environmental regulations has led owners to consider the potential of using LNG as fuel for cargo vessel newbuildings,” states Deltamarin Managing Director Mika Laurilehto. “There is a clear need to turn this potential into a proven solution for the dry bulk carriers that make up such a large proportion of the world fleet.”
Equally important, the project will also address the existing dry bulk fleet by developing a modularized LNG fuel retrofit solution for bulk carriers of various sizes. ABS will conduct concept and detail design approvals according to its rules for bulk carriers and gas-powered ships.
Project Forward will include a number of stages, with a first time horizon of two years’ applied research and development work. Initial research indicates that the expected emission reductions from Project Forward could be 40% for CO2, 80% for NOx and 98% for SOx.
About Deltamarin:
Deltamarin is a ship design, offshore engineering and construction Group operating in the marine and offshore industries worldwide. Its services include the full range of consulting, design and engineering as well as procurement, construction and installation. The Group employs around 350 experts in its own and associated companies located in Europe and Asia. Deltamarin is a subsidiary of AVIC International Maritime Holdings Limited.
About ABS:
Founded in 1862, ABS is a leading international classification society devoted to promoting the security of life and property and preserving the natural environment through the development and verification of standards for the design, construction and operational maintenance of marine and offshore assets.
About Arista Shipping:
Arista Shipping is driven by values stemming from its rich heritage of maritime tradition and innovation, maintaining the culture and principles established with the launch of Royal Cruise Line in 1972, Magna Marine in 1990 and Superfast Ferries and the Attica Group in 1993. Arista’s management team has a broad knowledge and experience of shipping markets and subsectors and enjoys a solid reputation across the maritime cluster.
About GTT:
GTT (Gaztransport & Technigaz) is the world leader in cryogenic membrane containment systems used for the transport and the storage of LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas). For over 50 years, GTT has offered to its customers technologies which allow them to optimize storage space and reduce the construction and operation costs of ships or tanks equipped with these systems. GTT operates in several sectors: LNGCs (Liquefied Natural Gas Carriers) and VLECs (Very Large Ethane Carriers), Multi-gas carriers, FLNGs (Floating Liquefied Natural Gas units), FSRUs (Floating Storage and Regasification units), onshore storage tanks and the use of LNG as a fuel.