Singapore’s Saga LNG Shipping reported that Saga Dawn, the world’s first LNT A-Box design LNG carrier, lifted its first full cargo at Singapore LNG and departed on its maiden voyage on 22 April
The 45,000-m3 LNG carrier’s reported destination is Guishan, China, according to vessel tracking service Marine Traffic.
“Today we celebrate yet another major milestone for our company, our vessel, and LNT Marine’s LNT A-Box technology,” said Saga LNG Shipping founder and chief executive David Wu.
Saga Dawn has an IMO type A LNG cargo containment system (CCS) based on LNT Marine’s LNT A-Box design. LNT Marine’s LNT A-Box CCS has an IMO independent tank type A as the primary barrier, a conventional cargo tank support system and liquid-tight thermal insulation attached to the hull compartment which acts as a full secondary barrier. The self-supporting prismatic tanks allow for simple construction and flexible design while maintaining market-leading utilisation of the hull space.
Fitted with three LNT A-Box cargo tanks, Saga Dawn has an expected boil-off rate of 0.15% per day.
Built to ABS class at the Jiangsu yard of China Merchants Heavy Industry (CMHI), the LNG carrier has an overall length of 195.3 m, beam of 30 m, depth of 20 m and draught of 9 m, with a single 11,700-kW Wärtsilä dual-fuel main and two Wärtsilä auxiliary engines. Saga Dawn has a service speed of 16.5 knots. A sister vessel is on order at CMHI.
Saga LNG Shipping reported it is finalising the development of an 80,000-m3 LNGC design with a 9-m fully laden draught, aimed at regional imports into Chinese terminals. Saga has further developed and obtained approvals in principle (AiP) for its shallow draft 28,500-m3 Wuhan Max and 12,000-m3 Yichang Max designs aimed at opening up trade along China’s Yangtze River.
Based around the LNT A-Box technology, Saga LNG Shipping aims to build, own and operate a series of bespoke small- and mid-scale LNG carriers. Plans are to focus on floating LNG vessels, LNG carriers, LNG transport barges and LNG bunker vessels, within the 1,000 to 100,000-m3 range.
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