France’s GTT gets BV approval for its new LNG containment system

French LNG specialist GTT has recently received an approval in principle from classification society Bureau Veritas for the development of its new liquefied natural gas containment system.

The system named NO96 Flex is a new evolution of GTT ‘s NO96 range and maintains the main elements of the NO96 technology, GTT said on Monday.

The insulating panels of the new system are mechanically anchored to the inner hull.

“The double metallic barrier concept remains with an unchanged secondary Invar membrane but with an evolution of the primary membrane this is changed from Invar to corrugated stainless steel,” the company said.

Initiated with NO96 L-03 technology, the integration of insulating foam panels within the NO96 system is now enhanced to take advantage of the continuous improvement in thermal performance of Polyurethane foam material.

The LNG specials said the use of PU Foam at primary and secondary levels would allow it to propose a boil-off rate reduction down to 0.07%V per day.

GTT added that, since the beginning of this development in 2017, the company had been “in constant exchange with the major yards constructing NO96.”

The mock-up phase is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2020, it said.