French classification society Bureau Veritas (BV) has awarded approval in principle (AiP) to Mitsubishi Shipbuilding for a spherical cargo tank system, designed to serve liquefied CO₂ (LCO₂) carriers.
These carriers are used for the shipment of LCO₂ gas in cargo tanks in a low-temperature and high-pressure state.
Using advanced technologies in structural analysis, Mitsubishi has developed a spherical cargo tank system for these vessels.
A unit of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, the company also conducted a material evaluation on the design and construction of liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers equipped with spherical tanks.
Spherically shaped tanks are expected to deliver better structural strength against the internal pressure of the tank compared to cylindrical, bilobed and trilobed tanks.
Mitsubishi’s spherical cargo tank system is anticipated to optimise ship arrangement as well as improve the economic performance of LCO₂ carriers.
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding has devised a growth strategy, named MARINE FUTURE STREAM vision for 2050, as part of the energy transition plan supported by MHI Group.
The plan targets ‘decarbonisation of the maritime economy’ through renewable energies and carbon recycling, as well as the use of autonomous operation and electrification to support a ‘safe and secure future for society’.
Last month, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha received AiP from ClassNK for the development of CO₂ transport technology for LCO₂ carriers.
Both firms will work on technologies to develop the carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) value chain.
