South Korea: Samsung Heavy Develops Cargo Hold for LNG Tankers

Samsung Heavy Industries has successfully developed the industry’s first membrane-type cargo hold for LNG tankers. With this, the company has finally tackled the last unsolved development initiative for the Korean shipbuilding industry, which was the cargo hold manufacturing technology for LNG tankers, completing a self-reliant Korean shipbuilding ecosystem.

SHI held a launch ceremony for SCA (Smart Containment-System Advanced), the cargo hold for LNG tankers, in London on the 6th, and invited shippers and classification experts. The company introduced the newly developed product, proudly promoting its technological excellence.

As this technology will enable cost savings of KRW 9 billion to KRW 10 billion per LNG tanker, it is expected that SHI will be able to increase its LNG shipbuilding competitiveness.

The cargo hold for LNG tankers is a tank containing LNG that is liquefied at -163 degrees, and is a critical part of an LNG tanker. In the past, all Korean shipbuilders manufacturing LNG tankers had to pay technology royalties, as a foreign company had the source technology.

With the aim of achieving self-reliant cargo hold manufacturing, Samsung Heavy Industries has conducted joint research with KAIST since 2007, with the master design and full design certified by major classification agencies, including LR and ABS.

In April 2011, the Company completed the mock-up certification and has undertaken phased preparation for the product launch by having tech briefings for the world’s major oil companies, including BG, Chevron, CoP and Exxon Mobil.

The newly developed cargo hold for LNG tankers was built with tech upgrades, including improved membrane forms, newly developed secondary barrier materials and super-insulating materials, in order to improve stability, gas tightness and efficiency in transportation.

First, the wrinkled part of the membrane of the primary protective wall that is in direct contact with the LNG was improved to reduce sloshing and significantly enhance stability. Sloshing refers to fluctuations during operations, which may give shocks to tanks.

The secondary protective wall surrounding the primary wall was made of metallic materials, replacing the previous material of triplex that is made of glass fibers. The replacement of the material aimed to improve the gas tightness of the hold.

In addition, the super-insulating new material was applied to the insulation panels, preventing the evaporation of LNG and improving the efficiency of LNG transportation. In general, evaporative emissions created during the operation of LNG tankers are partially used as fuel, and the remaining emissions are self-propagated or disposed. The new material minimizes evaporative emissions of LNG.

CEO Roh In-Sik said, “If we apply this industry-first model to our LNG tankers, we will be able to improve our competitiveness in order receipts, as we no longer will have to pay high tech royalties.”