GTT's Vessel Order Book Hit Record

French technology company Gaztransport & Technigaz (GTT) announced that with 14 orders for LNG carriers booked in the first quarter of 2019, its main business activity is at an all-time high.

"The LNG carriers will all be equipped with recent GTT technologies (Mark III Flex+, Mark III Flex and NO96 GW). They will be delivered between the end of 2020 and the end of 2021," the company, which is active in the field of cryogenics and storage of liquefied gases, said.

In March 2019, GTT received an order from the Sembcorp Marine shipyard for the design of the tanks of an LNG bunker vessel for ship-owner Indah Singa Maritime Pte Ltd, a subsidiary of Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL).

GTT will design the tanks for these vessels, which will include the Mark III Flex membrane containment solution developed by GTT. The vessel will have a capacity of 12,000 m3. Delivery is scheduled for the first half of 2021.

In April 2019, GTT received an order from Chinese shipyard Hudong-Zhonghua for the design of an LNG tank as part of the conversion of a very large capacity container vessel for German ship-owner Hapag Lloyd. The 6,500 m3 LNG tank will provide optimal space usage for the storage of fuel.

Since 1st January 2019, the GTT’s order book, excluding LNG as fuel, which then comprised 97 units, has evolved as follows: 9 LNG carrier deliveries; 1 FSRU delivery; 14 LNG carrier orders.

Philippe Berterottière, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GTT, commented: "The level of new orders held firm in the first quarter of 2019, in line with the good steady performance of the LNG market. We have already booked 14 orders for LNG carriers."

"With regard to LNG as fuel, we are registering increasing interest from ship-owners, which in the 1st quarter led to an order for a bunker vessel and more recently an order for the conversion of a container vessel to LNG," he added.

At 31 March 2019, the order book, excluding LNG as fuel, stood at 101 units, of which: 88 LNG carriers; 8 FSRUs; 2 FLNGs; and 3 onshore storage tanks.

With regard to LNG as fuel, the number of vessels on order at 31 March 2019 was 12 units, plus the order for the Hapag-Lloyd container vessel received in April.