HJ Heavy Industries has completed the development of a new LNG bunker vessel and is accelerating its efforts to secure core technologies for eco-friendly ships.
The company announced on May 4 that it had recently completed the development of a 7,500㎥-class LNG bunkering vessel, a vessel that supplies LNG fuel to the sea, and obtained the classification approval in principle for the basic design.
The approval body is Lloyd's Register (LR), the world's largest classification society. The 7,500㎥ LNG LNG bunker vessel developed by HJ Heavy Industries is a new vessel following the 5,100㎥ LNG LNG bunker vessel ordered from Japan's NYK in 2014. At the time, it was the first time that a general-purpose LNG bunker vessel was ordered worldwide, and it became a hot topic in the industry.
Typically, LNG-powered ships are supplied with fuel through LNG storage tanks on land, but with an LNG LNG bunker vessel, they can receive LNG fuel directly from the sea without the need for berthing.
The LNG LNG bunker vessel developed by HJ Heavy Industries is a ship-to-ship type, which is considered the most efficient bunker vessel possible.
The LNG bunkering ship also features a dual-fuel propulsion system, which ensures maneuverability and operational efficiency.
In particular, HJ Heavy Industries has developed a "ballastless water" system that allows ships to operate without the inflow and discharge of ballast water, which can cause disturbance to the marine ecosystem. This system has been specifically developed for LNG LNG bunker vessels.
Ballast-free ships are considered state-of-the-art vessels that are not only environmentally friendly because they do not require a separate ballast water treatment system, but they can also reduce construction and operating costs.
HJ Heavy Industries is currently working with the Pusan National University Hydrogen Ship Technology Center to develop technology for hydrogen ships. Hydrogen ships are considered the next generation of green ships that can achieve carbon neutrality because they do not emit carbon dioxide.
An official from HJ Heavy Industries said, "We will secure competitiveness in the market through technology development that can realize zero carbon and the construction of eco-friendly ships."