Gaztransport & Technigaz (GTT) has received an approval in principal (AIP) from Bureau Veritas (BV) for its bunker vessel.

GTT is engaged in the design of membrane containment systems for the maritime transportation and storage of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

The company had recently received approvals from various leading classification societies for its designs of a 2,200m³ bunker barge in the US market and of the REACH4 bunker mast. The present approval allows GTT to adopt LNG as a fuel for commercial vessels.

GTT chairman and CEO Philippe Berterottière said: "This is a new step for us, recognising the work done by our team of engineers and designers over a long period."

The new 4,000m³ LNG bunker vessel with Mark III Flex membrane tank design has a storage capacity of 1,000m³ marine diesel oil (MDO) as additional bunker fuel for delivery.

The compact design of the vessel provides maximum safety in operation and it is capable of servicing in congested areas, such as narrow channels and ports.

For a safe fuel transfer and appropriate boil-off gas (BOG) management solutions, the new bunker will be equipped with the REACH4 bunker mast.

The company is capitalising on its experience in LNG containment by developing solutions along the whole supply chain dedicated to ship bunkering with LNG, GTT stated.

In September, GTT received five AIPs for transportation of liquefied gases other than LNG from ABS, BV, CCS, DNV and LR.

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Image: GTT’s new bunker vessel. Photo: courtesy of Gaztransport Et Technigaz.