HD Hyundai is developing a plastic rival gas containment system to today’s dominant supplier, Gaztransport & Technigaz (GTT).
South Korea’s largest shipyard has just received a general approval for ship application from class society DNV for a new high-strength composite hybrid support system for independent tanks on liquefied gas carriers. In a world-first, HD Hyundai’s concept is fabricated with a fusion of carbon fibre-reinforced plastics (CFRP) with a tensile strength ten times greater than steel, significantly enhancing structural stability.
Lee Hyun-Ho, executive vice president of Hyundai Maritime Research Institute at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, said: “This is the result of another effort to apply composites to shipbuilding. It is expected to contribute to the competitiveness and safety of vessels with independent tanks and generate more orders as the design can be easily constructed.”
France’s GTT has a massive market share in LNG containment systems – above 80% – but many new designs are being developed to give GTT’s membrane system competition. GTT’s Mark III containment system is made from a primary corrugated stainless steel membrane, positioned on top of prefabricated insulation panels, including a complete secondary membrane made of composite material.
