Imabari wins ClassNK AiP for Cape size LPG dual fueled bulker

Imabari Shipyard

Classification society ClassNK has granted Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. an Approval in Principle for its concept design of a 180,000 DWT LPG dual fueled bulk carrier developed in cooperation with Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.

This is the world’s first AiP for an LPG dual fueled bulker.

“One of the merits of this design,” says Imabari, “is that it eliminates the necessity for special consideration of boil-off gas by handling LPG at room temperature and high pressure, which makes the ship’s operation easier. In addition, the ship has been designed with extensive consideration towards cost competitiveness by eliminating the of use low-temperature materials such as stainless steel and cryogenic insulation. LPG tank is planned/designed to be installed in the aft area of the bridge and with round-trip distance capacity between Japan and Australia.”

Imabari notes that another motivation for creation of the design is that “nowadays, LPG supply bases and infrastructure facilities are globally more developed and improved, which makes the ship’s operation more flexible. This is another motivation to create this design.”

The AiP for the concept design was based on ClassNK’s Guidelines for Ships Using Low-Flashpoint Fuels and its Rule Part GF (regulation for ships using low-flashpoint fuels) incorporating “International Code of Safety for Ships using Gases or other Low-flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code), the current IMO Res. MSC.391(95) and the MSC.458(101) revision planned for release in 2024.