Høvik, 2 April 2019: Classification society DNV GL has presented ShipInox with an Approval in Principle(AiP) for its new small-scale LNG carrier/bunker vessel design. It is the first ever class-approved design based on an offshore supply vessel(OSV). With a length of 92 meters the ship will have a carrying capacity of 6,000 cubic meters.
Interest in gas as a marine fuel is on the rise in the shipping industry. DNV GL’s most recent forecast predicts that by 2050 over 20 per cent of total shipping energy will be provided by LNG. In the shorter term, with the Sulphur cap on fuel entering into force in January 2020, the combination of technical maturity, efficiency, availability, and emissions reduction means that LNG is a viable option for many vessels, especially for newbuilding projects.
“The enthusiastic support we have received throughout the challenging development of this design makes us feel very humble,” says Rune Østbøe, CEO of ShipInox. “Not only DNV GL and the Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA), but a diverse range of companies spanning Innovation Norway, to the LNG-specialists at Torgy, and Fearnleys have all enabled us to deliver on this design. We are now in a position where we can help to accelerate entries into small-scale LNG with this fast-to-market and low-cost LNG carrier.”
“We are very proud that ShipInox asked us to be part of this interesting and innovative project,” says Trond Hodne, Senior Vice President at DNV GL – Maritime. “This design could be a viable option for owners looking to move into different segments in a challenging market, especially as the gas segment continues to gain importance in shipping.”
“This AiP is the result of an excellent cooperative process that included a feasibility workshop with the designers, the Norwegian Maritime Authorities, an OSV owner, and DNV GL experts,” says Johan Petter Tutturen, Business Director for Gas Carriers, DNV GL – Maritime. “We have been able to ensure that this novel design is in full compliance with the 2016 IGC Code and with the relevant class rules. It is a testament to the expertise and engagement of all parties involved that we could realise this challenging concept, and we look forward to seeing the first projects hit the water.”     
“Our strong focus on green shipping and fuel development and our experience in handling novel designs make us an asset in projects that challenge the standard set-up,” says Karolina Lundgren, Norwegian Maritime Authority. “We are pleased that Shiplnox decided to involve us early in the process. For future developments, it is a great advantage that the most problematic issues have been carefully considered both by Shiplnox and DNV GL and that the need for alternative designs has already been identified.”
An Approval in Principle is an independent assessment of a concept within an agreed framework, confirming that the design is feasible and no significant obstacles exist to prevent the concept from being realized. The AiP is typically carried out at an early stage of a project to confirm its feasibility towards the project team itself, company management, external investors or future regulators.