France’s GTT is to work as an engineering procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for the first time taking responsibility for two custom-built LNG bunker tanks that will be built and fitted into a Ponant cruiseship newbuilding in Norway’s Vard shipyard.
Inking a contract this week, chairman and chief executive Philippe Berterottiere told TradeWinds GTT will appoint its own licenced outfitters to build one 3,000-cbm LNG bunker tank to be sited in the mid-ships section of the ship.
A second 1,500-cbm will be constructed for fitting in the vessel’s aft section.
Both tanks will be designed to GTT’s Mark III membrane-type system.
It is also the first time GTT has acted as tank builder, coordinating its subcontractors. “Membrane [tank construction] is complicated,” he said, “and we see a certain merit in showing that it is feasible.”
Asked if the company would take on the tank-builder role again for future projects Berterrotiere replied: “Why not. We are testing the waters of this Rubicon.”
Berterottiere said Ponant saw the choice of membrane-type tanks, which can be built to fit specific spaces, as a “no-brainer” for its vessel.
The GTT chief said this is the company’s second LNG bunker tank contract, following the business it won to supply tanks to CMA CGM’s huge cruiseship newbuildings. But the company’s first job to see them fitted onto a cruiseship.
Ponant has contracted its expedition cruiseship Icebreaker at Vard for delivery in 2021. The company says the ship, which will be deployed on polar expeditions of between two weeks and one month, will be the first electric hybrid cruise ice-breaker with LNG propulsion.
The ship’s LNG bunker tanks total capacity of 4,500-cbm will allow it to make whole voyages without refueling increasing the automomy of the ship and giving Ponant a potentially wider choice of bunkering options.
Ponant has not yet given any details about where it intends to bunker LNG fuel for the vessel.
