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LNG fuelled ships: new generation of membrane LNG tank for improved performance and reduced cost.

Number: 54

Author(s) : FONSECA J., MANGE A., RAEIS T.

Summary

Since the first membrane LNG fuel tanks were installed on vessels in 2017, significant advancements have been made to enhance performance and reduce costs. Shipyards can now offer membrane fuel tanks with increased design pressure while maintaining all necessary filling limits. In addition, they have successfully integrated sump wells, extending the operational range of fuel pumps, as well as reducing pump tower size, leading to cost savings and a streamlined construction. At the end of the decade, the shipping industry will once again cross a major milestone, with the implementation of cold ironing regulation at several European and US ports.
This paper highlights key developments in LNG-as-fuel applications that will enable substantial cost reductions and enhanced LNG storage performance in response to this transition.
This new generation of LNG fuelled vessel equipped with membrane tank considers existing and upcoming regulations regarding the vessel efficiency index and emissions restrictions. They also benefit from an upgrade of the technology and operational feedback from in-service tanks, resulting in a so far unreached performance.
At the heart of this upgrade is a refined and improved liquid motion validation methodology of sloshing phenomenon inside the tanks, which opened the possibility to propose a new tank arrangement.
The new LNG tank design also impacts the overall ship arrangement, leading to further space optimization on board which can be used for either extra cargo (TEU) or increased fuel capacities (LNG or MDO). It can also be deployed in multi-fuel (e.g. methanol or ammonia ready) tanks and with increased pressure tank design (up to 2 barg).
This paper will highlight the benefits of a new generation of tank shapes enhanced by refined sloshing motion studies and the most up-to-date design assumptions. The outcomes of such will be considered in the second part of this paper, where the authors will focus on the return of experience of in-service vessels and how GTT and ship designers cooperated to deliver state-ofthe- art LNG fuel tank arrangement. The impact on the global vessel performance will be exposed through tangible examples, showcasing reduced environmental impact, increased operational flexibility, and the critical role of technological innovation and collaboration among industry stakeholders in achieving an efficient and optimized design.
 

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Details

  • Original title: LNG fuelled ships: new generation of membrane LNG tank for improved performance and reduced cost.
  • Record ID : 30034667
  • Languages: English
  • Source: 21st International Conference & Exhibition on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG2026)
  • Publication date: 2026/02/05

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