Time-lapse Shows Construction of Massive LNG Tanks for World's First Gas-Powered Containerships

An illustration of TOTE’s Marlin-class. Image (c) TOTE

The time-lapse below shows the construction of two 900 cubic meter cryogenic tanks to be installed onboard Tote’s Marlin-class containerships. The new 3,100-TEU Marlin-class ships – two under construction and up to five total – will be the first LNG-powered containerships in the world and are being built by General Dynamic’s NASSCO shipyard in San Diego.

The massive stainless steel tanks, manufactured by Cryos, weigh 380 tons each and will store the LNG fuel onboard the ships.

The first tanks were delivered to the shipyard in July along with the first dual-fuel main engine, a 8L70ME-GI built by South Korea’s Doosan Engine under license from MAN Diesel and Turbo. The engine marks the premiere of Man Diesel’s new ME-GI engine, which is a gas-injected, dual-fuel, low-speed diesel engine that can run on both gas or fuel oil and is said to be a significant advancement in propulsion technology.

Delivery of the Marlin-class ships is expected for late 2015 and early 2016. The new ships will operate in the U.S. Jones Act market between Jacksonville, Florida and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

TOTE’s contract with NASSCO includes options for up to three additional ships.