ABS to class first LNT A-BOX LNG carrier

LNT A-BOX containment system

JUNE 4, 2015 — ABS has been chosen to class a new design of medium-sized LNG carrier to be built by China’s Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry for Shanghai-headquartered Landmark Capital.

The 45,000 cu.m ship is the first LNG carrier ordered at the shipyard and utilizes the LNT A-BOX gas containment system. The order includes an option for a second ship.

Landmark Capital affiliate LNG New Technologies (LNT), with operations in Norway and Singapore, has developed the LNT A-BOX system and is providing engineering services for the project. LNT intends to market the containment system to third party shipyards that are looking to enter the LNG market.

LNT A-BOX has been developed based on the IMO IGC Code consists of an IMO independent tank type A placed in an insulated hold space — the “box.”

“From the beginning our aim was to develop a simple and cost effective LNG containment system that could enable new shipyards especially those in China to build mid-sized LNG carriers,” says LNT Managing Director Kjetil Sjolie Strand.

“LNT A-BOX is designed to answer the need for a system that fills the gap between smaller ships with Type C tanks and those with larger membrane type containment systems.”

The development of LNT A-BOX has been supported by the Research Council of Norway and Innovation Norway.

Last year, ABS completed an Approval in Principle for the LNT A-BOX gas containment system and will review the vessel design, survey the construction and class the ship for operation on delivery, which is due in 2017.

“We are delighted to have been awarded the classification contract for this innovative LNG carrier, which draws on our 50 years of experience in gas handling and transportation,” says Vice President of Global Gas Solutions for ABS, Patrick Janssens. “Landmark Capital recognized that in bringing to market a new containment concept and a new vessel design, that ABS was the natural choice for this exciting project.”

The LNT A-BOX is one of a handful of new LNG containment designs to receive design approval from ABS.
LNT undertook pre-design work for the vessel and Swedish naval architect FKAB has been engaged to produce the basic design drawings.

“This is a project that fully leverages ABS expertise in gas containment systems and LNG carrier classification and one that draws on both our local knowledge and global network,” says Country Manager, ABS Norway, Egil Legland. “ABS classed the first large LNG carriers ever built in China and we continue to support innovation as the industry addresses the evolving needs in LNG shipping.”