Another Asian shipbuilder orders TMC compressors for its LNG carriers

Norway-based TMC Compressors has been hired by South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean to supply marine compressed air systems for three liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers the latter is building for an Asian shipowner.

TMC is set to provide a complete marine compressed air system, including control and service air compressors, and nitrogen feed air compressors, to each of the three vessels. The Norwegian player claims the system is designed for easy maintenance by vessel crews.

Hans Petter Tanum, TMC’s Director of Sales and Business Development, noted: “The LNG newbuilding market is buoyant and we are proud to be able to offer an energy efficient marine compressed air system that is favoured by Hanwha Ocean as well as other shipbuilders. Our supplier relationship with Hanwha Ocean is based on mutual trust in our technologies and people, and a joint desire to reduce shipowners’ operating costs and emissions to a minimum.”

Following manufacture in Europe, the equipment will be delivered to South Korea. While neither the name of the client nor the value of the contract has been disclosed, TMC did share that the three LNG carriers will boast a cargo tank capacity of 174,000 cubic meters.

The compressor firm was previously commissioned by Hanwha to provide compressors for four LNG carriers in March, which the shipbuilder was also building for an undisclosed Asian client.

On that occasion, Tanum said every new contract award was equally exciting to him, despite his company delivering marine compressed air systems to several Hanwha Ocean’s 174,000-cbm LNG carrier newbuilds in the past. Energy efficiency was highlighted as the key aspect of TMC’s compressor system deliveries.

The latest contract award follows last week’s announcement by the Norwegian firm that it was selected by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) to supply marine air lubrication system (ALS) compressors for four LNG carriers the shipbuilder is constructing for NYK Line.

Meanwhile, Hanwha Ocean’s to-do list has been filled with LNG-related tasks lately. ADNOC Logistics & Services ordered eight LNG carriers, four from Hanwha Ocean and four from Samsung Heavy Industries, with a possibility of each firm building an additional one. The ships are slated for delivery starting in 2028. 

Last week, Hanwha Ocean delivered a newbuild LNG-ready 13,000 TEU containership to HMM. This is the seventh of 12 vessels of its kind the shipbuilder is constructing for HMM in partnership with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries under a deal signed in 2021.