French LNG containment specialist GTT has received €4.66 million ($4.9 million) in funding for the development of a CO2 capture system and intelligent operational performance solutions.
The funding comes from Bpifrance as part of the MerVent 2025 project, which aims to design, build, and operate the world’s first commercial containership with hybrid wind-assisted and synthetic fuel propulsion by 2025.
The project is a consortium of multiple organisations including ship owner Zéphyr & Borée, wing-sail designer and manufacturer CWS, the Centrale Nantes University with its energy optimisation research teams, OSE Engineering (a subsidiary of GTT), and GTT itself.
GTT will be responsible for designing the CO2 capture system, which will aim to capture at least 30 per cent of the CO2 emissions from alternative fuels such as LNG, methanol, e-GNL, and bioGNL.
This will contribute to the project’s goal of reducing CO2 emissions by at least 50 per cent for this type of vessel.
In addition, GTT will develop intelligent operational performance solutions to enhance the overall efficiency and sustainability of the ship.
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“This design of a commercial containership with hybrid wind-assisted propulsion and synthetic fuel is the forerunner of a new generation of carbon-free merchant ships thanks to a highly innovative ship design, a hybrid propulsion and an on-board CO2 capture system adapted to the alternative fuels currently being considered by the shipping industry,” said Philippe Berterottière, Chairman and CEO of GTT.
“We are proud to bring the know-how and experience of the GTT group to the development of a low environmental impact containership. Our digital intelligence subsidiary, OSE Engineering, will also play an essential role in this project, enabling the operational optimisation of the ship’s various propulsion systems.”
GTT and China Merchant Industry Holdings have been cooperating for a decade, with a first Technical Service Agreement signed in 2013 for the maintenance and repair of liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers.
