Dynacom Tankers Management is the first sh[ds_preview]ipowner to future-proof its vessels by applying for Bureau Veritas’ gas-prepared notation. The classification society is to grant the notation to six Suezmax tankers under construction for the oil tanker specialist.
The 157,000 dwt tankers will measure 274.3 m in length, with a beam of 48 m and depth of 23.2 m. They are being built at New Times Shipbuilding in China, with delivery expected in 2017 and 2018.
According to BV the gas-prepared notation sets out requirements for ships which are designed and fitted out for dual-fuel or LNG fuel propulsion, but which are not initially intended to use gas as a fuel. It provides owners with the flexibility to convert easily to dual fuel or LNG fuel propulsion in the future.
Jean-François Segretain, Marine & Offshore Technical Director, Bureau Veritas said: »Applying for GAS-PREPARED is an important step in future-proofing a new vessel and we look forward to working with Dynacom, the first owner in the market to choose this solution.«
Bureau Veritas’ Rule Note NR 627 Gas-Prepared Ships, published in late 2015, sets out how the initial design of the ship is to take into account the necessary spaces or zones to accommodate installations such as LNG bunkering station, LNG storage tanks, fuel gas handling system, ventilation systems, GVU, GCU, where required by NR529 and a vent mast vent mast.
Vessels meeting the standards are awarded the notation Gas-Prepared.
The notation may be modified with the addition of S when specific arrangements are implemented for the ship structure, P when specific arrangements are implemented for piping, ME-DF when the main engine(s) is (are) of the dual-fuel type, AEB when the auxiliary engines and oil-fired boilers are either of the dual fuel type, or designed for future conversion to dual fuel operation.
