Gas ship services

Leading the way in gas ship classification

The demand for energy around the world is increasing rapidly and as a result the importance of natural gas as an energy source is predicted to grow significantly. Transporting natural gas in a liquefied form (LNG) by sea requires special engineering techniques and contingency measures to minimise the risk created by the hazardous nature of the cargo.

Lloyd's Register has extensive experience of gas carrier design, particularly LNG ships, which can help you ensure that your ships deliver their cargo safely, with minimal risk to your reputation and the environment.

We have built a strong reputation within the LNG industry for providing reliable experience-based LNG services, and helping owners and shipyards round the world to establish themselves in the LNG industry. Lloyd's Register classed:

• the first ever LNG ship in the world to bear the notation Liquefied Gas Tanker in 1958
• the first LNG ships built in Finland at Kvaerner Masa the first LNG ships built in Korea at Hyundai Heavy Industries
• the first LNG ships to be built in Spain at IZAR
• the first membrane LNG ship to be built in Japan using the GTT No 96 containment system at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries,
• and is classing the first Moss ship to be built using stretched tank technology at HHI.

For the future, we have established extensive training programmes for our newbuild and existing ship surveyors, to ensure that we can continue provide you with the level of service and experience demanded by the industry and for which we have become respected.

During design and construction

Through our continuous involvement in the approval of LNG designs over many years, we have developed and refined our approach to LNG design appraisal. Unlike other classification societies, we carry out an extensive independent review of each LNG containment system, to help ensure that this most critical part of your LNG ship is correctly designed and installed, reducing the risk of costly rectification work being required later in your ships life. We are also able to use our ShipRight FDA software to deal with your specific trading requirements, ensuring that your ship can resist the fatigue loadings that it will experience during its life.

To help ensure that the plan approval and construction of your ship proceeds smoothly, we adopt a project management style approach to LNG new construction. The project manager will be the focal point of our involvement in the project and will act as the key point of contact. One of their key roles will be to ensure that we provide all the necessary help required to make construction of your ship successful.

In service

For gas ships in service, we offer the following value-added services in addition to classification:

• Hull planned maintenance scheme: by integrating classification requirements with your existing hull inspection and maintenance we can offer you an alternative route to classification compliance for your hulls structure, helping you to maximise the revenue potential of your ship.
• Condition assessment programme: for older vessels we can provide independent assessment of the actual condition of the ship's structure, machinery and cargo systems to meet the requirements of your charterers, shippers and terminal operators.

Training

We also offer training courses relating to LNG ships. These can be adapted to particular requirements, and are all delivered by surveyors with extensive gas ship experience.

If you would like to progress your enquiry further please choose one of the following: