- ABS approves a project which is adapting technology developed for the space industry to be used for maritime LNG fuel tanks.
- SpaceTech4Sea project has brought the classification society together with OceanFinance and Cimarron Composites.
- Explore composite technology, which is lighter and cost-effective, offers a competitive alternative to traditional marine LNG fuel tanks.
- The team’s goal is to create ‘ultra-lightweight’ LNG fuel tanks which will attract both new buildings and LNG fuel retrofits by cutting costs.
ABS granted a design approval for SpaceTech4Sea, a project to adapt technology developed for space use to maritime LNG fuel tanks, says an article published in Offshore Energy.
About SpaceTech4Sea project
ABS, OceanFinance and Cimarron Composites are joining forces on the SpaceTech4Sea project to adapt composite technologies developed for the space industry to shipping.
European Union funding
The project is supported by €1m ($1.19m) funding from the European Union.
Explores competitive alternative
SpaceTech4Sea explores whether composite technology, lighter and potentially more cost-effective, offers a competitive alternative to marine LNG fuel tanks.
Project’s goal and focus
The project focuses initially on high-speed vessels with small LNG fuel tank capacities.
The goal is to develop ultra-lightweight LNG fuel tanks which will attract both new buildings and LNG fuel retrofits by cutting costs, reducing weight and increasing vessels’ capacity.
SpaceTech4Sea offers weight savings of up to 80 per cent over existing equivalent LNG tank designs, is not affected by corrosion, and also introduces space technology safety standards to marine operations.
ABS Approval in Principle
It previously received Approval in Principle from ABS in September 2019.
The ABS Design Approval means the next step is a physical vessel installation of the technology.
“The next challenge is to support its safe application on a vessel,” said Patrick Ryan, ABS senior vice president, global engineering and technology.
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Source: Offshore Energy