HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, the intermediate holding company for HD Hyundai’s shipbuilding division, successfully secured its first order of the new year worth 1.5 trillion Korean won, leveraging its eco-friendly shipbuilding technology.

On the 6th, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering announced that it recently signed a construction contract with a shipowner in the Americas region for four 200,000-cubic-meter (㎥) class ultra-large liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers. The contract is valued at 1.4993 trillion Korean won. The vessels will be built at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries in Ulsan and delivered by the first half of 2029.

These ships have a higher cargo capacity than conventional LNG carriers (174,000 ㎥ class), reducing transportation costs. They measure 294.8 meters in length, 48.9 meters in width, and 26.7 meters in height.

LNG carriers transport natural gas in a chilled liquid state. Building them requires advanced technology, earning them the nickname “the flower of the shipbuilding industry.” Clarksons Research, a British shipbuilding and shipping analysis firm, predicted that LNG carrier orders will be active this year due to overlapping new LNG project developments and replacements of aging vessels.

These ships are equipped with high-efficiency shaft generators and LNG reliquefaction systems to enhance operational efficiency. The shaft generators produce electricity in sync with the propulsion shaft’s rotation, reducing the need for separate generators and improving fuel efficiency. The reliquefaction system minimizes cargo loss and greenhouse gas emissions by re-liquefying evaporated LNG gas generated during operation.

A source from HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering stated, “We will continue to focus on developing eco-friendly technologies and securing orders for high-value-added vessels.” The company set an order target of 23.3 billion U.S. dollars for this year.
Source: Chosun Daily