LNG Carriers
LNG carriers are specially-designed ships for transporting Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) from the place where it is produced to the place where it is to be consumed. Building these ships is a real technological challenge: the gas has to be kept cooled to a temperature close to absolute zero during long sea voyages.
Info
In order to transport large volumes of gas, the ships need to have a large capacity and draft.
Info :
- Length 284.37 metres
- Beam 42.45 metres
- Height 25 metres
- Speed 19.5 metres
The tanks
Inside the ship, four cryogenic tanks hold the liquefied gas at a constant temperature of -163º C. Technological advances have allowed more efficient ships to be built, which reduce the boil-off effect - i.e. LNG being reconverted into gas. The small amounts of gas are re-used as fuel for the ship and the rest is again converted into LNG.
Transverse cross-section
Building the tanks requires advanced engineering studies, since the temperature of the LNG has to be maintained throughout the voyage. It is also important that the intense cold does not damage the hull of the vessel.
- Final assembly of 1,200,000 parts.
- Structure of 50,000 boxes filled with special sand.
- Insulating membrane made of alloy with high nickel content.