In mid-2014, Chinese shipowner and operator Tianjin South West, set the designers at Jiangnan shipyard a big challenge by asking them to design and build a pair of 54,000 dwt ships that would be, when delivered, the world’s biggest VLGC’s (Very Large Gas Carriers). It would put China at the forefront for the building of these types of liquefied gas carriers, which transport high-risk inflammable and explosive gas worldwide.
Fast forward 2 years and both vessels have now been successfully delivered. As part of the sophisticated design and construction, South Shields based Solar Solve Marine have completed a contract, won by their Shanghai based distributor. They have supplied 23 SOLASAFE® roller sunshades that are Type Approved by Lloyds, DNV-GL and ABS for installation at the navigation bridge windows of both vessels, which will protect the staff from solar glare, heat and uv light. Gold reflective solar film was specified, to get maximum benefit from the screens when they are in use.
Gas Taurus was delivered first, at the end of 2015 followed by Gar Aries six months later. Considering the very high specification, complicated tank structure and challenges associated with welding low-temperature steel, the shipyard personnel excelled themselves in producing the two vessels in double-quick time.
Solar Solve’s chairman John Lightfoot, commented, “We often supply our products to what are generally termed Significant Ships and it is always an honour to be specified. Usually the vessels will be the biggest, or of a unique design, or powered in some brand new way or maybe they are the fastest built so far.”
“Both these vessels are bigger than previous Liquefied Petroleum Gas carriers and have a cargo capacity of 84,000 cubic metres of LPG that will be transported at -52°C. Their design incorporates constraints relative to the limitations of the harbours they will be visiting and the newly enlarged Panama Canal.”
“We like to think of SOLASOLV® as being the brand leader and when we win orders like this, it tends to justify our claims.”
