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From September 9–12, Gastech 2025 was held successfully in Milan, Italy. As the world’s largest gas industry exhibition, the event once again showcased a wide range of eco-friendly ship technologies for the carbon-neutral era. Particularly eye-catching were futuristic LNG carrier designs. While it was once believed that LNG carrier design had reached a state of near-standardization with little room for further change, next-generation models unveiled at the show directly challenged this perception and drew significant industry attention.

A leading classification society revealed that as many as 30 Approvals in Principle (AiPs) were granted during the exhibition alone. This surge in AiPs is widely seen as part of shipyards’ strategy to highlight design capabilities and prepare for the next wave of orders at a time when new LNG carrier contracting remains subdued. One participant commented, “So many AiPs were signed that I can hardly remember who was involved and for what.”

So far this year, only 17 new LNG carriers have been ordered globally. Industry players, however, expect demand to surge soon as new liquefaction projects advance toward Final Investment Decisions (FID), fueling intense competition among shipyards to secure orders through innovative design proposals.

Next-Generation LNG Carriers with ‘Wind Sails’ Emerge

Among the most notable technologies showcased at Gastech was the wind-assisted propulsion system.

Japan’s Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) exhibited a model of an LNG carrier equipped with its proprietary telescopic “Wind Challenger” sail system. The technology is already being applied to two newbuilds under construction, which will enter service under long-term charters with Chevron and Tokyo Gas.

MOL also received AiPs for two enhanced design concepts featuring four sails in different layouts, aiming to further reduce carbon emissions.

Spain’s Bound4blue, meanwhile, unveiled a 200,000-cbm, three-tank LNG carrier model equipped with its suction sail technology, developed in cooperation with France’s GTT. The vessel will also feature GTT’s membrane-type cargo containment system.

Bridge and Accommodation at the Bow—Nuclear and Ammonia Power Concepts Also Unveiled

Another emerging trend at the exhibition was the adoption of forward bridge and accommodation layouts by multiple shipyards.

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries introduced its 178,000-cbm Future Platform LNG carrier with both the bridge and crew quarters placed at the bow. Samsung Heavy Industries presented a hybrid design, positioning the bridge forward and the accommodation aft, both concepts incorporating wind sail systems.

However, safety concerns have been raised. One LNG captain remarked, “In an emergency, if the captain is called to the bridge, it takes too long to move from the aft quarters to the forward bridge.” Designers countered that in addition to the aft accommodation, a dedicated duty cabin is provided near the forward bridge for such cases.

Pushing innovation further, Samsung Heavy Industries unveiled an LNG carrier powered by a molten salt reactor (MSR). This vessel, featuring a small modular nuclear reactor designed in collaboration with the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, became the world’s first MSR-powered LNG carrier concept to receive approval from ABS and the Liberian registry.

Hanwha Ocean introduced a zero-carbon LNG carrier powered by electricity generated from ammonia-fueled gas turbines. The 174,500-cbm vessel features a bow bridge and accommodation layout, and is also designed with icebreaking capability.

CSSC Showcases Next-Generation Cargo Tank ‘BrilliancEII’

China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) presented a wide range of LNG carriers, bunkering vessels, and liquefied CO₂ carriers. Subsidiary Jiangnan Shipyard highlighted its next-generation Type-B cargo containment system, the BrilliancEII. According to CSSC, the system offers larger tank capacity while reducing fuel consumption compared to existing designs.

Outlook: Major Order Boom Expected

Although newbuild activity has been sluggish this year, industry observers anticipate a surge in LNG carrier contracting as liquefaction projects progress. By using Gastech as a platform to showcase their design capabilities, shipyards have effectively entered a new phase of positioning—aimed squarely at gaining the upper hand in the next wave of large-scale orders.

The article was provided by ASIASIS.

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