ABS Classification Society has granted Approval in Principle (AIP) to Deltamarin and GTT for the dual-fuel Newcastlemax bulk carrier design.

Deltamarin, GTT and ABS have been cooperating on the development of an LNG-fuelled energy-efficient Newcastlemax Bulk Carrier. The vessel will meet current and future environmental targets by introducing a well-studied, pre-approved and genuinely clean-fuel technology ship, incorporating GTT Membrane-type LNG tanks with LNG fuel stored at atmospheric pressure and designed to ABS Class.

With the support of GTT, Deltamarin studied various arrangements and solutions to site the tank on the vessel. The design was carried out using a holistic approach, providing not only a vessel using LNG as fuel but also the best available efficiency with low emissions in this vessel size class.

The AIP addresses the design’s introduction of a membrane fuel tank sited in the aft of the vessel. The tank design is intended to maximise cargo capacity, with the additional tank having zero impact on available cargo space or the vessel’s hull dimensions.

“A design such as this would allow owners and operators to capitalise on the potential of LNG as marine fuel to help meet emissions reduction objectives without having to compromise on cargo load,” said Patrick Janssens, ABS Vice President of Global Gas Solutions.