Large LNG-fuelled container ship granted approval in principle
The 308m-long and 48.4m-wide container ship design features a two stroke dual-fuel main engine, which is electronically controlled, with a high combustion efficiency coupled with a hull form optimised for safety and fuel efficiency
The ship is designed with a new type of LNG tank that provides more space for container cargo. The LNG is stored in prismatic low pressure insulated tanks (Type B) and DNV said that this was the first time that such tanks had been proposed for a large container vessel. They are different from cylindrical pressure tanks (Type C) as they utilise the available space much better due to their prismatic, rectangular shape. KHI has also adopted a unique technology, the Kawasaki Panel System, for heat insulation in order to reduce the rate of evaporation of LNG.
B-type tanks produce evaporating LNG continuously, which have to be used for propulsion or auxiliaries. Reefer containers will consume the boil-off in port eliminating any emission of LNG to air, as well as the need for cold ironing, according to the classification society.
