Gas Carrier Concept Stems from Bulker Design

Deltamarin Ltd and Brevik Technology AS, a VARD affiliate, have joined forces to develop a novel multigas carrier design concept that combines the design of Deltamarin’s B.Delta and the new-generation patented cylindrical gas tanks by Brevik Technology.

By combining the B.Delta design and separate cylindrical gas containment tanks, a cost-efficient and easy-to-build solution is now available to the gas carrier market, the developers explained. The design can be utilized for LNG, LPG, LEG and ethane carriers.

“Up to now gas carriers have been complex and expensive to design and construct. This is not the case anymore as Brevik Technology has developed cylindrical steel tanks, which are separate from the vessel hull,” said Brevik Technology’s managing director, Øystein Kristoffersen Sæther. Based on Brevik Technology’s research and development, an independent gas carrying method has been created to challenge the traditional way of building the vessel and the tanks as one entity. The patented containment design has already been approved by classification societies.

According to the designers, the cylindrical tank design allows the tanks to expand in all directions without putting stress on the vessel hull. The independent containment system, which can be built into a vessel as is, results in better possibilities to utilize the existing well-proven ship design. “This is where the ship owner can get significant benefits by choosing a readily available and highly efficient B.Delta hull design already proven in operation,” said Deltamarin’s managing director, Mika Laurilehto.

The design based on the B.Delta is actually a bulk carrier design equipped with cylindrical tanks for the gas cargo. “As a bulk carrier, the vessel is easier and cheaper to build compared to a traditional gas carrier, and there may be many new potential yards capable of constructing such a vessel,” Laurilehto said.

An economical and easy-to-build product is now available for the market for smaller-scale gas carriers of 31,000 m3. Plans are in place for future medium- and larger-scale vessels to also be provided with a similar design. Along with newbuilds, the design will also be available for retrofit vessels such as the conversion of a bulk carrier to gas carrier.