Last Friday, 11 December, HSHI held a naming ceremony for two 180,000-ton bulk carriers that run on LNG.

Hyundai said the vessels, the first two in a series of four ships of the same design, were dubbed HL Eco and HL Green, as suggested by their names, had great eco-friendliness.

These boats, with a length of 292 meters and a width of 45 meters, will also become the first large LNG-fueled vessels to embark on an international route covering South Korea.

The ships are intended to achieve a 99% reduction in emissions of sulphur oxides (SOx) and particulate matter (PM), a reduction of up to 85% in emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and a 30% reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) relative to current ships.

Hyundai also claimed that the fuel tanks and hulls were entirely made of steel manufactured domestically. The LNG fuel tanks have a storage capacity of 1,600 cbm, the biggest capacity available for a Type C tank in the world.

Two such LNG fuel tanks are fitted for each vessel, which can provide sufficient energy to heat 3,300 homes for an entire year. The tanks consist of 9% nickel alloy, which has excellent fracture durability.

HSHI and POSCO have worked together to boost material quality and meet IMO requirements for reliable material supplies and business growth. As a result, the pair was able to add nickel steel domestically produced to the vessels.

“We have built the largest number and varieties of ships operating on LNG among the Korean shipyards. Building on these pioneering successes, we will strive to provide a clear reason for more shipowners to opt for LNG-fueled ships as a measure to meet the IMO 2020 regulation requirements," said Kim Hyung Kwan, CEO of HSHI.

Maritime Business World