HD Hyundai Heavy Industries completes sea trial for the world's largest-scale ammonia dual-fuel propulsion vessel

KR is collaborating with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) to establish a domestic operating environment for ammonia-fueled vessels under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' "Green Shipping Corridor Construction Support Project". The initiative supports the development of ammonia as one of the most promising next-generation marine fuels.

HHI recently conducted a sea trial of Korea's first ammonia dual-fuel propulsion vessel.The trial generated operational data on the vessel’s fuel supply system and engine, which will provide a valuable technical foundation for KR's future development of domestic guidelines for environmentally friendly vessel operations and supporting wider maritime decarbonization efforts.

A spokesperson for HD Hyundai said, “Drawing on our group's R&D capabilities and on-site technical expertise, we have made meaningful progress in advancing the application of ammonia as a marine fuel. We expect this to contribute to enhancing a sustainable maritime ecosystem and strengthening the competitiveness of Korea's shipbuilding industry.”

Kim Daeheon, Executive Vice President of KR’s R&D Division, added, "The close collaboration between KR and HD Hyundai has enabled us to build the technical foundation for introducing ammonia-fueled vessels in Korea. We will continue to drive national projects forward together with HD Hyundai and establish technical standards befitting the era of Green Shipping Corridors.”

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries completes sea trial for the world's largest-scale ammonia dual-fuel propulsion vessel

KR has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), UK-based wind propulsion technology company BAR Technologies, and the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR) to jointly develop a 174K LNG carrier equipped with the WindWings® wind-assisted propulsion system. The agreement was signed at Gastech 2026 in Bangkok and aims to assess the technical feasibility and safety of applying wind-assisted propulsion technology to LNG carriers as the global shipping industry accelerates its transition toward decarbonization.

The project will focus on a 174K LNG carrier developed by HHI featuring a forward accommodation arrangement. By positioning the crew accommodation block toward the bow, the design provides additional space on the upper deck, creating an opportunity to integrate BAR Technologies’ WindWings® system. WindWings® uses large, rigid wing sails installed on a vessel to harness wind as supplementary propulsion. By reducing reliance on the vessel’s main propulsion system, the technology can lower fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions while improving overall energy efficiency.

Under the collaboration, HHI will lead the vessel?셲 basic design and design review, while BAR Technologies will provide technical data covering the arrangement and specifications of WindWings®, structural strength, operational concepts and expected fuel savings.

KR, together with LISCR, will assess the safety and technical suitability of the design against applicable rules and international requirements. Based on the outcome of the assessment, KR will also consider granting Approval in Principle (AIP), supporting the application and future commercialization of wind-assisted propulsion technology on LNG carriers.

Applying various cargo tanks considering fuel supply efficiency

KR signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Hanwha Ocean at 'Gastech 2026' in Bangkok for the joint development of an 18,000 m³ (18K) class LNG bunkering vessel. As the International Maritime Organization (IMO) enforces increasingly stringent greenhouse gas (GHG) emission regulations, the global maritime industry is experiencing a rapid increase in LNG-fueled propulsion vessels. Consequently, securing a stable and effi cient LNG fueling infrastructure has become a paramount priority for shipowners and operators worldwide.

To satisfy this surging industry demand, ship-to-ship (STS) LNG bunkering vessels—capable of delivering LNG fuel directly to ships off shore or at berth—are seeing unprecedented market growth. The joint development project between KR and Hanwha Ocean aims to establish advanced LNG bunkering vessel design technology that maximizes operational reliability, safety, and economic feasibility across diverse fuel supply environments.

The 18K LNG bunkering vessel project focuses on developing versatile design concepts tailored to varying operational needs and fuel transfer configurations. To achieve high fuel supply efficiency and adaptability, the joint team is engineering two distinct cargo tank solutions:

· High-Manganese Steel Cargo Tank Independent Type-B (MCTIB): Utilizes high-manganese steel as a structural material, offering superior cryogenic toughness, high structural stability, and superior cost-competitiveness compared to conventional nickel alloy steels.

· Type-C Independent Pressure Tank: Employs a pressure-vessel design philosophy to handle boil-off gas (BOG) pressure flexibly, ensuring high operational safety and simplified cargo management during STS bunkering operations.

By securing design technology for both MCTIB and Type-C cargo tank options, the partners aim to provide shipowners with optimized vessel configurations that balance capital expenditure (CAPEX), cargo capacity utilization, and operational safety.

The development initiative establishes a clear division of technical responsibilities between Hanwha Ocean and KR to accelerate commercial readiness

Hanwha Ocean

· Lead basic engineering design and vessel performance evaluation.

· Establish LNG cargo hold arrangements, fuel supply systems, and operational concepts.

KR

· Review safety, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency against international conventions and classification rules.

· Conduct technical assessment and issue Approval in Principle (AIP) to facilitate commercialization.

Through this technical collaboration, KR will ensure full compliance with international safety conventions and classification rules from the early design phase, paving the way for the early commercial deployment of next-generation 18K LNG bunkering vessels in the rapidly evolving global maritime decarbonization market.