ABS to class Petronas LNG newbuilds

lsUnlike the HHI-built Moss LNG tanker shown in this file photo, the Petronas newbuilds will have full length tank covers integrated into the main hulls

MAY 14, 2014 — ABS has been awarded a contract for the classification of two innovative “Moss-type” LNG carriers to be built in Korea for Malaysia’s Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas).

With 42 m diameter spherical cargo tanks, the 150,200 cu.m capacity ships will be the largest Moss-type vessels ever built at Hyundai Heavy Industry’s shipyard in Ulsan, Korea, featuring the latest technology to improve energy efficiency and operational reliability.

The ships will feature full-length tank covers integrated into the main hulls, a feature which is expected to improve longitudinal strength and minimize structural discontinuity. The integrated structure also will allow for piping and passageways to be arranged on the tank-cover deck, improving safety and ease of maintenance.

The Petronas ships will have Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Marine Machinery & Engine Co., Ltd. (MHI-MME) Ultra Steam Turbine (UST) propulsion systems. The technology incorporated into the UST was developed by MHI independently. The adoption of a reheating cycle, a field in which the company has a strong track record in onshore commercial power generation plants, results in a near 15% improvement in fuel efficiency compared to conventional steam propulsion plants.

“This contract is a recognition of ABS’ technical knowledge and leadership in the gas carrier sector,” says ABS Vice President for Global Gas Solutions, Patrick Janssens. “Not only do we have the largest orderbook for LNG carriers among class societies, all of the current LNG cargo-containment systems – Moss, GTT’s Mark III and No. 96 membrane types, and SPB types – have been installed on ABS-classed ships. And we continue to offer approval in principle to the new containment concepts proposed by industry designers.”

The contract award comes just months after ABS unveiled its new Global Gas Solutions team, a multi-disciplinary group of technical experts formed to respond to the rapidly escalating number of gas-related projects, including LNG and LPG transportation, the use of LNG and LPG as fuel and the growing number of FLNG projects.

ABS holds the largest share of LNG carriers on order with 34 percent of the orderbook set to class with the organization.