Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Technical Review
    Vol. 53 No. 2 (2016)   Shipbuilding and Ocean Development
    Technical Papers

    Structural Design and Construction Method for "Apple-Shaped Liquefied Natural Gas Cargo Tank" for LNG Carriers

    MICHIHISA WATANABE
    RYUSUKE TAKADA
    TAKASHI OKAFUJI
    HIROSHI TSUJII
    MASAHIRO KASHIWAGI
    YOICHI KAMITANI

    Recently, the demand for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as power-generating fuel has rapidly increased. On the other hand, the production of a new type of natural gas, due to the development of technologies for gas extraction from shale formations (referred to as "Shale Gas Revolution"), has been expanding mainly in the United States. Due to the increasing demand for this natural gas, the marine transport of LNG is expected to increase significantly. Currently, regarding the transport of American shale gas, which has attracted enormous attention, there are concerns such as restrictions on the dimensions of vessels after the expansion of the Panama Canal and long-distance transport across the Pacific Ocean. Therefore, it is important for LNG carriers to achieve a high level of safety and improve cargo loading space efficiency. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) developed the 155 km3 Sayaendo LNG carrier in 2011, and has delivered five vessels of the same model so far. In order to satisfy the needs of our customers, MHI has completed the development of an "Apple-Shaped Tank" that inherits the features of the existing MOSS spherical tank, which has enjoyed a great reputation for reliability. As of April 2016, MHI has received orders for eight new LNG carriers with apple-shaped tanks, and began the manufacturing of aluminum tanks in October 2015.