KR and Hanwha Ocean Partner on Large LNG Bunkering Vessel
The Korean Register (KR) and Hanwha Ocean are teaming up to develop a large liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering vessel. The move comes as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) tightens greenhouse gas rules, expanding the market for LNG-fueled ships.
The joint development aims to capture not only the shift to cleaner marine fuels but also the infrastructure market for ship-to-ship LNG supply at sea. KR and Hanwha Ocean plan to develop design concepts using different types of LNG cargo tanks so the vessel can serve a range of fuel-supply conditions.
The two companies will prepare two designs, one using MCTIB, an LNG storage tank based on high-manganese steel, and the other using a Type-C independent tank of the pressure-vessel type. The goal is to compare cargo handling and cost performance by tank type and secure design technology that can meet actual bunkering demand.
Hanwha Ocean will handle the basic design and vessel performance review, while KR will review safety, regulatory compliance, and operating efficiency from the earliest design stage under international conventions and classification rules. The industry expects LNG bunkering vessels to emerge as key infrastructure supporting the spread of eco-friendly ships.