LR awards Jiangnan AiP for new VLGC

The design, named ‘Panda 91T’, includes an LPG dual-fuelled main engine and relevant fuel gas system, as well as an optional air lubrication system. The energy efficiency design index (EEDI) is approximately 40% lower than the base value, improving the efficiency of the VLGC design.

“Jiangnan has secured seven VLGC contracts of Panda 86P this year with great support from LR, but considering LPG fuel capacity for a round trip, more than 6,000 cubic metres tank volume may be required,” said Hu Keyi, Chief of Global Technology of Jiangnan Shipyard.

“How to capture more space for gas and still keep full compatibility, ship dimensions, draught, manifold height, identical with conventional VLGC… Jiangnan’s designers were facing a big challenge,” he added.

“With the help of the design philosophy of “BrilliancE” type B tank developed for a very large ethane carrier, Jiangnan has sufficient confidence to revolutionise hull configuration of traditional VLGCs,” he said.

LR enabled a basic-level hazard identification workshop for the LPG fuel supply system and associated technology in accordance with LR’s ShipRight Procedure for Risk-Based designs, confirming that the design meets international regulations and LR classification rules, specifically the construction and classification of ships for the carriage of liquefied gases in bulk and for gases or other low-flashpoints fuels.

Mark Darley, LR’s North Asia president, said, “This is a great milestone of our longstanding relationship with Jiangnan, demonstrating the shipyard’s strong design capability in VLGCs and its clear understanding of our rules and regulations which we have rewarded with this AiP.