A study led by GTT Group, Lloyd’s Register and Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Limited concludes that inspection intervals for LNG carrier membrane tanks could be safely extended thanks to monitoring technology and predictive maintenance.
Internal Inspection
The International Gas Carriers (IGC) Code and IACS UR Z16 rules require Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) carrier cargo tanks to be inspected internally every five years. This joint study explored whether this interval could be extended in the framework of an alternative survey plan (ASP) with consideration to the implications on the associated risk profile. The project group conducted a thorough analysis of LNG tanks and related system design and their operation, with consideration of potential damage mechanisms, the potential consequences and their detectability. The study concludes that the inspection period extension is possible with little adaptation of the design, as well as adequate monitoring of the cargo tank and ship-specific hazard and operability (HAZOP).
Sloshing Virtual Sensor
Ascenz Marorka, a subsidiary of the GTT Group, performs tank monitoring to support inspection interval extension using its “Sloshing Virtual Sensor” technology. This unique and proven digital solution, which has already been adopted by owners, uses the GTT-designed tank digital twin, together with real-time operational data. It enables the assessment of sloshing activity in vessels and the monitoring of their critical integrity parameters. Ship-owners and charterers can therefore optimize tank maintenance while, at the same time, complying with strict safety standards, improving operational flexibility, and obtaining significant cost-savings.
Anouar Kiassi, Managing Director of Ascenz Marorka, said: “This study, jointly conducted with industry leaders, is an important milestone in our ongoing efforts to improve LNG carrier design and operations. We are proud that our cutting-edge digital technology, Sloshing Virtual Sensor, a combination of artificial intelligence and GTT Group’s expertise, contributes to supporting this evolution in the LNG industry…”
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Source: GTT
