- Saga LNG Shipping’s new LNG carrier is the first with an LNT A-Box cargo containment system, using an IMO independent type A tank.
- LNT A-Box system can offer a boil-off rate (BOR) of 0.15% per day.
- It offers a simple, flexible and efficient cargo containment system enabling more shipyards to build LNG vessels at more attractive prices.
An article published in Riviera Maritime Media reports about the cargo containment system, LNT A-Box, by Saga LNG Shipping.
Singapore-based Saga LNG Shipping’s new mid-size 45,000 m3 LNG carrier Saga Dawn has broken new ground with its LNT A-Box cargo containment system, based on an IMO independent type A tank.
Gas trials
Conducted in June over three weeks, the gas trials cooled down one of the LNGC’s three LNT A-Box cargo tanks before loading 2,300 m3 of LNG at Shanghai LNG’s Wuhaogou terminal.
The trials covered a full cooldown and warm up of all three cargo tanks and tested the 11,700-kW Wärtsilä dual-fuel main and auxiliary engines, gas combustion unit and cargo handling equipment.
Immediately following warm up, each tank successfully completed global tightness testing to confirm the integrity of the secondary barrier system.
The testing was witnessed by representatives from Chinese shipyard China Merchants Heavy Industry (CMIH), class society ABS, cargo containment system designer LNT Marine and Saga LNG Shipping.
Viable solution for flexible LNG carriers
LNT Marine chief executive Kjetil Sjølie Strand calls the gas trials a “remarkable achievement in LNG shipping”, noting: “The success of the gas trials – the culmination of nearly 10 years’ research and development – verifies that the LNT-A Box concept is a viable solution for flexible LNG carriers.”
Due for delivery in July, Saga Dawn is based on LNT Marine’s LNT45 design, with Sweden’s FKAB supplying its basic design.
Flexible in shape and geometry
Built with an independent tank type A as the primary barrier and a full secondary barrier, the LNT A-Box cargo containment system is flexible in shape and geometry.
It maximises volume utilisation, while its internal structure mitigates sloshing and eliminates any loading limitations.
The tank itself is not insulated, but it is installed in an insulated cargo space.
Easy inspection and maintenance
In between the tank and the secondary barrier is a cold inter-barrier space, which offers direct access for visual inspections and maintenance of both barriers, as well as the tank supports.
Since the insulation is not exposed to any static or dynamic loads from the cargo, the insulation material is optimised for thermal performance.
This means that the LNT A-Box system can offer a boil-off rate (BOR) of 0.15% per day, according to Saga LNG Shipping.
Runs on natural gas also
Saga LNG Shipping’s first LNG carrier, Saga Dawn has an overall length of 195.3 m, beam of 30 m and design draught of 9 m.
The ship’s auxiliary generator sets are also able to burn natural gas.
Saga LNG Shipping and CMIH signed a contract for the 45,000-m3 capacity LNG carrier in late 2015, with the yard subsequently entering into a licence agreement with Singapore’s LNT Marine for the LNT A-Box containment system.
Simple and efficient cargo system
LNT Marine COO Stein Foss believes the cost and complexity of traditional LNG containment systems does not make smaller LNG projects commercially feasible.
“LNT A-Box does,” he states. “It offers a simple, flexible and efficient cargo containment system enabling more shipyards to build LNG vessels at more attractive prices.”
While the concept has initially been focused on the small-to-mid-size LNGC segment, Mr Strand says the technology can be scaled up or down.
“We are currently involved in a number of projects to develop new LNGC designs based on the LNT A-Box concept, including an 80,000-m3 LNG carrier, shallow draught vessels and small and mid-size FSRUs”, he adds.
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Source: Riviera Maritime Media
