Hyundai Mipo to deliver “world’s largest” LNG-fuelled ship this month

South Korea’s Hyundai Mipo Dockyard is to deliver by the end of this year a 50,000 dwt bulk carrier, claimed to be the world’s largest LNG-fuelled ship.

This was revealed in a joint statement on Thursday by Lloyd’s Register and Hyundai Mipo’s parent company Hyundai Heavy Industries.

The two companies have been working together on a number of projects “in building an LNG-fuelled future” and the 50,000 dwt bulk carrier is one of those developments.

Hyundai Mipo Dockyard won the order in June last year to build the LNG-powered bulk carrier for shipowner Ilshin Shipping. The vessel is equipped with a high manganese LNG fuel tank.

When delivered, the ship will transport limestone cargoes in the Korean coastal trade for steelmaker POSCO.

Worth mentioning, HHI also this year signed a contract to build the world’s first LNG-fuelled Aframax tankers for Russian Sovcomflot.

LNG-fuelled vessel projects progressing

Earlier this year, HHI and LR announced a joint development project to design 180,000 dwt class bulk carriers.

According to the statement, the design development is now almost finished and is in the process of receiving approval in principle.

This design is optimised for short to medium-haul bulk trade (i.e. Australia – Asia) and long-haul bulk trade (i.e. Brazil – Asia) service, in line with Harmonised Common Structural Rules, the statement reads.

To decide the optimum location and type of LNG tanks for these designs, Hyundai conducted several case studies for competitive CAPEX and OPEX.

As a result, LNG fuel tanks with POSCO high manganese steel or 9% nickel steel were chosen.

They will be located on the aft mooring deck because of the amount of LNG that will be required for the Australia – Asia route. For the long-haul route, a larger sized LNG storage tank can be fitted in the mid-part of the vessel, the statement said.

Additionally, Woodside, Anangel, GE, LR and HHI signed a joint industry project agreement to develop an LNG-fuelled 250,000 dwt very large ore carrier operating on the Australia – Asia iron ore trade route.

The HAZID analysis of this design, to verify the safety level, was recently completed with all parties in Seoul. The LNG tanks are also based on the POSCO high manganese steel or 9% nickel steel design, according to the statement.

LNG World News Staff