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Gaztransport & Technigaz (GTT) - a designer of membrane containment systems for the maritime transportation and storage of liquefied natural gas (LNG) - has announced that it has been granted approval in principle (AIP) from Bureau Veritas for a new LNG-powered bunker vessel [pictured].

The AIP follows other recent approvals from classification societies for GTT designs of a 2,200-cubic-metre bunker barge and the REACH4TM bunker mast.

Equipped with a Mark III Flex membrane tank design and also fitted with a storage capacity of 1,000 cubic metres of marine diesel oil (MDO) as additional bunker fuel for delivery, the new 4,000-cubic-metre LNG bunker vessel is described by GTT as having "an improved compact design, offering the highest degree of safety in operation".

"It is particularly well adapted to perform in congested areas such as narrow channels and ports," GTT said.

The new bunker delivery vessel has been designed to refuel ships safely and will be equipped with the REACH4TM bunker mast in order to ensure safe and efficient fuel transfer as well as appropriate boil-off gas (BOG) management solutions, the company added.

Commenting on the Bureau Veritas AIP, GTT said: "This approval further positions GTT in the progressive adoption of LNG as a fuel for commercial vessels. GTT is capitalizing on its long experience in LNG containment by developing solutions along the whole supply chain dedicated to ship bunkering with LNG."

Philippe Berterottière, Chairman and CEO of GTT, remarked: "This is a new step for us, recognizing the work done by our team of engineers and designers over a long period."