DNV GL Grants Approval in Principle to World's First LNG-Fueled VLCC Design

Tor E. Svensen, Group Executive Vice President at DNV GL, presented the AIP to Guan Yinghua of DSIC for the LNG-fueled VLCC design.

DNV GL Tuesday announced that it has granted approval in principle (AIP) to a Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company (DSIC) liquid natural gas (LNG) fueled very large crude carrier (VLCC) design.

The AIP, which is said to have been awarded at the Marintec China trade fair, came following DNV GL confirmation that the design meets the requirements of the classification society's Gas Fuelled notation.

The dual-fuel vessel's LNG fuel tanks are said to provide the vessel the ability to sail round trip from the Middle East to the U.S. without needing to refuel.

"This AIP is another step toward the more widespread adoption of LNG as a fuel for shipping," said Torgeir Sterri, Vice President and Regional Manager for DNV GL in Greater China.

"The emissions and efficiency benefits of LNG mean it is almost sure to become an important part of the fuel mix over the next few years."

Operating in gas fuel mode, the vessel design is said to meet International Maritime Organization (IMO) NOx Tier III requirements, elminating particulates and SOx emissions, and a significant reducing CO2 emissions, as well as achieving a 30 percent reduction factor for compliance with Phase 3 of Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) regulations.

"We have seen its adoption in many sectors already and now with this AIP, the world's first for a VLCC, this major shipping sector could see its first LNG-fuelled vessel soon," said Sterri.

The DSIC design is reported to feature type C fuel tanks on the open deck in order to reduce the impact on the vessel's overall layout, leaving the vessel's cargo capacity unchanged from the conventional VLCC design.

Further, the vessel's dual-fuel capability is said to provide operators with increased flexibility in bunkering options.

In November, classification society Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) announced it had granted AIP to a Maritime Innovation Japan Corporation (MIJAC) design for a 98,000 DWT liquid natural gas (LNG) fueled bulk carrier.