French engineering firm GTT has partnered with HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) and BW LNG to develop the world’s first large-scale LNG carriers featuring a three-cargo-tank design. This innovative configuration will be implemented in four new vessels, with two ordered in November 2025 and two more in May 2026. The carriers, equipped with the GTT Mark III Flex membrane containment system, are set for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2028.
The three-tank design enhances cargo efficiency and operational performance, promising lower freight costs and reduced emissions compared to traditional four-tank models. By increasing tank length by up to 55% and cargo capacity to 177,000 m³, the new vessels maintain compatibility with existing terminal dimensions and operational parameters.
This collaboration between GTT, BW LNG, and the shipyard aims to optimize LNG transport, improving thermal efficiency and minimizing boil-off gas rates to 0.08% per day. François Michel, CEO of GTT, emphasized the project’s significance for operational and environmental advancements in LNG carrier design. BW LNG’s CEO, Yngvil Åsheim, expressed pride in pioneering this design, highlighting its potential to meet global LNG demand sustainably.
