Saga LNG Shipping’s mid-size carrier completes gas trials

Singapore-based Saga LNG Shipping completed the gas trials for its new LNG carrier, Saga Dawn, on Sunday, June 16, at anchorage near Shanghai, China.

The 45,000-cbm LNG carrier Saga Dawn cooled down one of its three cargo tanks and loaded approximately 2300 cubic meters of LNG at Shanghai LNG’s Wuhaogou terminal on May 26.

The vessel departed for anchorage on May 27 to complete the remainder of the gas trial program.

Over a three-week span, Saga Dawn completed a full cool down and warm up of all three cargo tanks, including testing of all engines, GCU, and cargo handling equipment.

Immediately following warm up, each tank completed global tightness testing to confirm the integrity of the secondary barrier system.

All testing was supervised by representatives from China Merchants Heavy Industry, ABS, LNT Marine, and Saga LNG Shipping.

“The successful completion of Saga Dawn’s Gas Trials marks the beginning of a new era for LNG containment technology and the LNG shipbuilding industry. In reaching this final milestone of the construction process, we are very proud to share with the market that our Saga Dawn, the world’s first LNG Carrier featuring the LNT A-BOX, is now ready for service.” David Wu, founder and CEO of Saga LNG Shipping said.

Saga Dawn will be delivered this July and enter into service shortly after.

The ABS-classed vessel was built at China Merchants Heavy Industry’s Jiangsu yard and features Wärtsilä dual-fuel main and auxiliary engines.