Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore (BV) has awarded approval in principle (AIP) certificates for five vessel concepts developed by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co., Ltd., covering LNG and ethane carriers, a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), an onboard carbon capture-ready design and a 3D classification project.

The approvals were issued following BV’s technical review of key classification elements, including principal dimensions, cargo-handling systems, and cargo containment arrangements. The assessment also considered energy efficiency, carbon emissions performance and operational flexibility.

One of the projects receiving AIP is a “P-Flex” 201,000-cbm Panama-Max LNG carrier. BV said the design increases cargo capacity by 15.5% compared with conventional 174,000-cbm LNG carriers, improving transport efficiency per voyage.

The optimised hull form and propulsion configuration are expected to deliver up to 5% lower energy consumption per unit of cargo, while fleet modelling indicates an annual reduction of more than 8% in carbon emissions.

BV has also approved a 174,000-cbm LNG FSRU with a dual-function layout that allows it to operate as both an LNG carrier and an FSRU. The vessel incorporates a NO96 GW containment system, removing loading level restrictions during regasification service.

Additional features include environmental power generation units targeting up to 7% lower fuel gas use, and a hybrid heating system offering regasification capacity of 750 to 1,000 million standard cubic feet per day.

A third AIP covers a 150,000-cbm ultra-large ethane carrier (ULEC). The membrane containment system is designed to achieve a boil-off rate approximately 15% lower than that of independent Type B tanks. The vessel is equipped with high-pressure dual-fuel engines and a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system to reduce emissions. The design is also described as LNG-ready, with structural and low-temperature piping provisions in place for potential future conversion.

BV and Hudong-Zhonghua have further launched a joint development project (JDP) applying 3D classification methods to an 18,600-cbm LNG bunkering vessel, Hull No. H1930A. The initiative aims to define best practices for digital model fidelity and approval procedures within the classification process.

The final AIP was granted for an onboard carbon capture (OCC)-ready concept for a 271,000-cbm LNG carrier. BV said the approval confirms the technical feasibility of integrating a future carbon capture system into the vessel’s layout, addressing system integration requirements and safety considerations as part of longer-term decarbonisation strategies.

Alex Gregg-Smith, President, Marine & Offshore, Bureau Veritas, said: “This series of approvals highlights the deep and strategic partnership between BV and Hudong-Zhonghua. It moves beyond single vessel certification to a broader collaboration on defining the future of shipping — from deploying today's most efficient LNG solutions to tomorrow's carbon capture and digital design technologies. We are committed to supporting our clients with the technical excellence and safety standards that enable innovation.”