Classification society ABS has granted approval in principle (AIP) to Finnish ship designer Deltamarin and French engineering company GTT for a dual-fuel Newcastlemax bulk carrier design.
The trio has been cooperating on the development of the LNG-fueled energy-efficient Newcastlemax bulker, which is intended to meet current and future environmental targets, by introducing GTT membrane type LNG tanks with LNG fuel stored at atmospheric pressure and designed to ABS class.
As explained, the AIP addresses the design’s introduction of a membrane fuel tank sited in the aft of the vessel.
The tank design is intended to maximize cargo capacity, with the additional tank having zero impact on available cargo space or the vessel’s hull dimensions.
“A design such as this would allow owners and operators to capitalize on the potential of LNG as marine fuel to help meet emissions reduction objectives without having to compromise on cargo load,” Patrick Janssens, ABS Vice President Global Gas Solutions, commented.