New LPG carrier design awarded approval in principle
General arrangement profile view of the LNG Safe design concept (Source: HMD)
Presented at Gastech 2017 in Tokyo during the first week of April, the LPG Safe (Structural Advances for the Environment) is a 38,000dwt design which combines the safety benefits of a double side-hull with the same cargo carrying capacity and construction cost as a conventional design, HMD claims.
This has been achieved by optimising the structural configuration of cargo tanks number one and three, and by using DNV GL rules to optimise scantlings, weight and hull strength, according to HMD Seoul vice president, Dug Ki Min. The new design, with a simple hull shape and double hull construction, should also provide an improved working environment for shipyard workers during construction, resulting in deliveries of higher quality, he said.
Carrying liquefied gases such as butane and propane, LPG carriers are usually designed with Type A independent cargo tanks inside the hold supported by insulation-bearing blocks installed on the ship’s inner bottom structure. The double side-hull design of LPG Safe will offer greater protection for these tanks, it is claimed, especially in the event of a collision.
HMD has built a diverse range of more than 900 medium-sized conventional and specialised ships since 1996. These include 28 LPG carriers in the 38,000dwt class and the shipbuilder has a further twelve units of this type currently on order.
