Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Technical Review Vol. 49 No. 1 (March 2012)
12The 155k-m3 Sayaendo: A New Generation LNG Carrier
with a Continuous Integrated Tank Cover
SAI HIRAMATSU*1

KENJI TSUMURA*2

RYUSUKE TAKADA*3TOSHINARI ISHIDA*2

KAZUYOSHI HIRAOKA*2

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has received an order for the newly developed
155k-m3 Sayaendo, a next-generation liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier with a continuous tankcover integrated with the hull. Sayaendo retains the reliable configuration and sloshing resistanceof spherical tanks, while integrating a continuous tank cover to improve the carrier’s overall
structural efficiency, thus achieving a lightweight and compact design. Furthermore, adoption of ahigh-efficiency ultra steam turbine (UST) propulsion system enhances operating economy bysignificantly reducing fuel costs. This article describes the advantages of Sayaendo, including its
improved maintainability, compatibility with LNG terminals, and environmental performance.

|1. Introduction
The name “Sayaendo,” which means peas in a pod in Japanese, comes from the vessel’sappearance, featuring spherical tanks (“endo” or “peas”) in a continuous cover (“saya” or “pod”).
In conventional liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, the upper half of the spherical tanks above theship’s deck is covered by a semispherical dome and the lower half under the deck is supported by acylindrical skirt structure. In contrast, the Sayaendo employs a continuous cover, integrated withthe ship’s hull, to house all tanks entirely, thus improving the overall structural strength andachieving weight reduction. For the main power plant, the Sayaendo uses the Mitsubishi HeavyIndustries, Ltd. (MHI) ultra steam turbine plant (UST), a new turbine plant that achieves higher
thermal efficiency through effective use of thermal energy by reheating steam. Together with theweight reduction and improvements in propulsion performance, the new ship achieves more than a20% reduction in fuel consumption compared with conventional ships. Furthermore, inconventional LNGCs, piping, electric cables, and passages atop the tanks are supported by complex
structures. The new design makes such complex supporting structures unnecessary, thus improving
maintainability. The continuous cover also improves aerodynamics by substantially reducing
longitudinal wind force, which serves as a drag on the ship’s propulsion, contributing to reduced
fuel consumption during actual operations at sea.

|2. Characteristics of the 155k-m3 Sayaendo LNG carrier
2.1

Development concept and key technologies

The 155k-m3 Sayaendo has a new-generation hull form designed to achieve significant
improvements in long-haul operating economy, operational flexibility and environmental
performance, by combining the advantages of key technologies such as the continuous cover,stretched tanks, and UST propulsion plant. Characteristics of the Sayaendo are described in thefollowing sections.

2.2
(1)

Improved operating economy
Light weight and compact design
In conventional LNGCs, a hemispherical cover has little effect on the overall strength,
which is maintained by other structures. The 155k-m3 Sayaendo employs a continuous cover tohouse four spherical tanks entirely, enabling the cover to be used as a hull-reinforcing element,*1Group Manager, Ship & Ocean Engineering Division, Shipbuilding & Ocean Development*2

Engineering Manager, Ship & Ocean Engineering Division, Shipbuilding & Ocean Development*3Ship & Ocean Engineering Division, Shipbuilding & Ocean Development

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Technical Review Vol. 49 No. 1 (March 2012)13

resulting in greater overall strength and a reduction in weight. The new design also reduces thedepth of the ship (Figure 1). Size comparisons with a conventional 147k-m3 carrier are shownin Table 1.
(2) Increased cargo capacity via stretched tanks
The capacity to transport 8,000 m3 more LNG than a typical 147k-m3 carrier is achieved
without increasing the beam by using vertically stretched spherical tanks that maintain the sametank diameter. Thus, the new design provides a higher cargo capacity while meeting the New
Panamax requirements (Figure 2).

Figure 1

Conventional/continuous tank cover comparison
Table 1

LNG cargo tank type
Cargo tank capacity (m3)Loa(m)B (mld.)(m)
D (mld.)(m)
Design draft (mld.) (m)DW(t)
Speed(kt)Main propulsion plant

Figure 2(3)

Size comparisons with a conventional 147k-m3 carrier
Conventional 147k-m3 carrier
with a spherical tank cover
4 spherical tanks
Approx. 147,200
288
49.0
26.8
11.27
Approx. 71,300
Approx. 19.5
Conventional turbine155k-m3 Sayaendowith a continuous tank cover
4 spherical tanks
Approx. 155,300
288
48.94
26.0
11.55
Approx. 75,000
Approx. 19.5
UST

Increased cargo capacity due to stretched tanks

Lower fuel consumption
A significant reduction in fuel consumption is achieved through improvements in shipweight and propulsion performance, as is a reduction of longitudinal wind force with the use of
the continuous tank cover and adoption of the high-efficiency UST propulsion plant. With its
fuel-selection flexibility (i.e., gas and oil mixture rates), the UST plant provides cost-efficientchoices in managing the effects of fuel price fluctuations.
(4) Low boil-off rate (BOR)
By altering the thickness of the thermal insulator thanks to the characteristics of thespherical tank system, the rates of naturally generated boil off gas (BOG), which is caused byheat ingress into LNG storage tanks, can be readily optimized according to operational
requirements. Instead of a typical BOR of 0.15%/d achieved in conventional LNG carriers, theMitsubishi Heavy Industries Technical Review Vol. 49 No. 1 (March 2012)14

Sayaendo is capable of 0.080%/d, which is even lower than the 0.10%/d adopted recently as
the low boil-off rate.
(5) Lower maintenance costs
In conventional hemispherical tank covers, piping, electric cables, and passages atop thetanks are supported by complex structures. The continuous tank cover makes such supporting
structures unnecessary, thus significantly improving maintainability.

2.3

Enhanced terminal compatibility(1)Highly versatile cargo capacity
A larger cargo capacity increases economic competitiveness by lowering the unit cost ofoperation; however, due to limitations on LNG storage capacity at receiving terminals, LNG
carriers that are too large may pose operational difficulties. A total tank capacity of 155k-m3
offers highly versatile terminal compatibility worldwide.
(2) Compact design, comparable to a typical 147k-m3 carrier
A compact design comparable to a typical 147k-m3 carrier is achieved through use of thecontinuous tank cover and stretched tanks, ensuring versatile terminal compatibility. The
Sayaendo is also compatible with the size limits for traveling through the Panama Canal after
its planned expansion is completed in 2014 (366 m in LOA, 49 m in width, and 15.2 m indraft).

2.4

Environmental performanceWith improvements in propulsion performance, a reduction of longitudinal wind force, andlowered fuel consumption via adoption of the UST plant, the Sayaendo is expected to achieve aCO2 reduction of approximately 25 % per cargo unit during actual operations compared with aconventional 147k-m3 carrier (Figure 3). The UST propulsion system also features very low
emission of NOx and SOx.

Figure 3

CO2 reductions per cargo unit

|3. Configuration and structure
3.1

Configuration

Figure 4 shows the overall configuration of the Sayaendo. The characteristics of the layout
are described below.

Figure 4

Overall configuration

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Technical Review Vol. 49 No. 1 (March 2012)15

Four cargo tanks are arranged entirely under a continuous cover, with the inside consisting offour hold areas designated for each tank. Loading/unloading manifolds are placed between thesecond and third holds where the cover is cut out. Piping and electric cables are located at the flat
section on the top of the continuous tank cover, improving accessibility and maintainability.
Furthermore, a portion of space between the third and fourth holds under the cover is designated asa cargo equipment room, thus freeing up more space on the flat section of the cover. As a result ofconsultations with major classification societies with regards to the novel design of Sayaendo, anapproval in principle (AIP) has been obtained from LR, DNV, NK, ABS, and BV.

3.2

Structural configuration and strength

The structural design of the 155k-m3 Sayaendo follows fundamentally that of a 165k-m3
prototype carrier.1 Notable characteristics specific to the 155k-m3 Sayaendo are described below.
(1) Structural configuration
The Sayaendo is designed with a molded depth of 26 m to support terminal compatibility
and maintains the same height from the bow to the engine room as a conventional 147k-m3
carrier. The front and back ends of the continuous cover are connected to the hull with large
scarfing brackets, thus providing sufficient structural continuity.
The continuous cover results in the location of the neutral axis (height from base line) of
the hull’s longitudinal bending stress being higher than that of a conventional carrier. However,by positioning the height of the tank skirt’s lower end near the neutral axis, as with aconventional carrier, the effect of hull flexure on the skirt structure is minimized.
(2) Structural strength and fatigue design
Integrated wave load and strength analysis simulation was conducted using
MHI-DILAM,2 an advanced structural analysis program developed by MHI. It has beenverified by a yield and buckling strength analysis with design regular waves and full stochastic
analysis for fatigue strength performed on a whole ship model with a continuous tank cover thatthe hull and the cover have sufficient structural reliability (Figure 5).
In addition, with increased longitudinal bending strength because of the continuous
cover, the stress ranges at the top of the cover and at the bottom longitudinal stiffeners are
reduced by approximately 10% and 30 %, respectively, versus a conventional carrier, enhancing
structural fatigue reliability.
Stress, buckling, and fatigue strength analyses using a finite element model wereconducted on the cargo tanks, skirts that support the tanks, and equatorial ring that connects thetwo (Figure 6).
(3) Vibration control
The continuous tank cover is a novel structure with the Sayaendo. The adoption ofstretched tanks has also resulted in a higher deck structure and longer pipe tower inside thecargo tanks compared with a conventional carrier. With these new structural characteristics, aneigenvalue and response analysis was conducted to evaluate vibration of the entire carrier, andconfirmed that the level was satisfactory.

Figure 5

Structural analysis using MHI-DILAM

Figure 6
Stress analysis with anaxisymmetric solid model(equatorial ring)Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Technical Review Vol. 49 No. 1 (March 2012)16|4. Propulsion plant and performance
4.1

Improved propulsion performance

By leveraging the advantages of a lightweight hull, combined with state-of-the-art
computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technology, MHI developed an optimal hull form to achieve
superior propulsion performance at a wide range of speeds, including low-speed operations. Thecarrier is also equipped with a Mitsubishi reaction fin to further enhance its high performance.
Tests conducted in a wind tunnel with headwind confirmed that the wind resistance wassubstantially reduced, by approximately 20 - 40 %, compared with that of a conventional carrier.
This improvement translates to a 3 - 4% reduction of total fuel consumption in actual operation.
When compared to a 147k-m3 carrier operating at the same speed, the Sayaendo requires lesspropulsion power per cargo unit, by 10 % or more.

4.2.

Propulsion plant

The Sayaendo uses a high-efficiency turbine (UST) plant that uses a reheat cycle while
retaining the merits of conventional turbine plants, thus achieving an approximately 15%
improvement in plant efficiency. The UST plant offers a level of reliability equivalent to aconventional plant, in addition to high maintainability and flexibility in fuel selection (100% gas,100% oil, or any mixture of the two). Furthermore, with a structure that enables steam extraction
from the main turbine at low loads, the plant efficiency during low-speed operation is equivalent tothat of a diesel plant, offering optimal overall operating profitability. The plant also offers excellent
environmental performance; when using gas only during low-speed operation in combination with
low BOR, the plant delivers an approximate 50 % reduction in CO2 emissions. As for NOxemissions, turbine-powered carriers are already below the Tier III level, and marine gas oil that isin compliance with low-sulfur fuel regulations can be used without any issue. Furthermore, withpotential changes in such regulations in mind, the new fuel gas supply system is now capable ofgas-only use at all conditions of operation, including when the carrier is in harbors.

4.3

Low BOR and improved fuel efficiency during low-speed operation

On a LNG carrier, BOG is inevitably produced from cargo tanks. BOG is commonly used aspropulsion plant fuel. When the high efficiency propulsion plant is applied to the vessel and/orduring low-speed operations, BOG exceeds demanded capacity and requires disposal using a boiler
or gas combustion unit. In the spherical tank method, rates of BOG can be readily controlled byincreasing the thickness of the thermal insulator. As such, the method enables the use of ahigh-efficiency propulsion plant with an optimal BOR that can be selected according to operational
requirements. Instead of a typical BOR of 0.15%/d achieved in conventional LNG carriers, theSayaendo is capable of a BOR of 0.080 %/d, a further improvement over the recently adopted
0.10%/d. The correlation between service speed and surplus BOG is shown in Figure 7.

Figure 7 Correlation between service speed and surplus BOG (at full load)
BOG at a BOR of 10%/ d and 15%/ d and gas consumption by the plant to volume ofsurplus BOG is shown, using service speed as a parameter.

|5. Other technologies
5.1

Wind-tunnel tests

Due to the Sayaendo’s unique form, wind force analysis was required to accurately compare
the behavioral characteristics of the Sayaendo and a conventional carrier with spherical tanks. The

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Technical Review Vol. 49 No. 1 (March 2012)17

results of wind-tunnel tests using a detailed model revealed that the wind force coefficient of theSayaendo was substantially reduced for headwinds due to the effect of the continuous cover, while
the coefficient for beam winds was approximately the same as that of the conventional carrier. The
Krylov Institute, a third-party research body, also carried out wind-tunnel tests independently andverified the performance improvements (Figure 8).

5.2

Maneuverability simulation and mooring analysis

Maneuverability in harbors is an important factor in the operational safety of LNG carriers.
Due to the Sayaendo’s increased lateral windage area compared with that of a conventional carrier,a detailed analysis was conducted to verify its maneuverability.
The maneuverability analysis was commissioned to Japan Marine Science, Inc., a third-party
institute. Applying the wind force characteristics confirmed by the wind-tunnel tests and theinfluence of tides, several simulations were conducted, including ship berthing and unberthing
simulation by a shipmaster license holder using a simulator and computer simulation of turning bytugs and course keeping in a strong wind. The results confirmed that the Sayaendo had amaneuverability equivalent to that of a carrier with conventional tank covers. Figure 9 illustrates
the simulations. Furthermore, based on the analysis of the Sayaendo’s wind force characteristics,
optimal mooring arrangements at terminals have been determined.

Figure 9
Figure 8

Maneuverability simulations

Wind-tunnel tests|6. Conclusions
Presently, as part of efforts to prevent global warming, improvements in energy efficiency
are being vigorously sought in the area of international marine transportation. In response, MHI isactively developing “eco-ships” with improved environmental performance. In this article, various
advantages of the 155k-m3 Sayaendo are described in detail. With the integration of a continuoustank cover with a hull that leverages the structural reliability of spherical tanks, the Sayaendo wasdeveloped, incorporating MHI’s state-of-the-art technologies, such as advanced hull form
designing, sophisticated structural analysis, and high-efficiency turbine plant system. Following
various methods of technical analysis that confirmed its advantages, including environmental
performance, the Sayaendo is now available for commercial operations, and MHI has secured anorder for construction of the carrier. Positioning eco-ships as one of the key high-value-added
products in the company’s Shipbuilding and Ocean Development business sector, MHI aims toexpand its product line and to further its pursuit of eco-ship development and customer expansion.

References1.
2.

Hiramatsu, S. et al., Sayaendo - New Generation LNGC with Continuous Integrated Tank Cover -,Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Technical Review Vol. 47 No. 3 (2010) pp. 19 - 24
Sato, K. et al., MHI-DILAM (Direct Loading Analysis Method) - An Advanced Structural Analysis
Method for Ships and Offshore Structures -, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Technical Review Vol. 47 No. 3(2010) pp. 65 – 72