Leading classification society DNV has granted an Approval in Principle (AiP) certificate to Hudong-Zhonghua’s new design of a 271,000cbm LNG carrier, making it the largest vessel of its kind in the world.
On the inaugural day of Gastech 2023, held in Singapore, DNV’s global Business Director Gas Carriers & FSRU, Martin Cartwright, presented the AiP certificate to Song Wei, Chief Technical Officer of Hudong Zhonghua Shipbuilding Company Limited (Hudong-Zhonghua), for the new design of a 271,000cbm LNG carrier. It is part of a joint development project between both organizations. The AiP demonstrates that Hudong-Zhonghua can build such ships and offers shipowners an innovative concept to transport LNG more economically and efficiently.
The new LNG carrier design is 344m long, has a breadth (moulded) of 53.6m and has five cargo tanks. Further features include energy saving solutions such as an air lubrication system (ALS) and shaft generator, a cargo tank design with sloshing monitoring, as well as an advanced anti-collision system. Despite its size, the vessel would be able to berth at more than 70 LNG terminals along the main trade route.
DNV's AiP is based on classification rules with the following intended class notations: +1A Tanker for liquefied gas, BIS, BWM(T), Recyclable, Shaft align(1), COAT-PSPC(B), TMON(Oil lubricated), CSA(FLS1), NAUT(OC), LCS, CLEAN, E0.