In a company press release the world’s biggest shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) announced today (July 7) that has jointly developed world’s first gas turbine-powered 174,000 m3 LNG carrier with GE Aviation and Marine (GE), which is a leading industrial gas turbine maker. The South Korean company has secured Approval in Principle (AIP) on the vessel from the UK-based Lloyd’s Register.
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The IMO Tier III-compliant 174,000 m3 LNG carrier is equipped with GE’s gas turbine-based Combined Gas turbine Electric and Steam system (COGES 2.0).
Specialist have calculated that an ordinary LNG carrier might operate for 20 years with an operating cost of $720,000 per year, since it does not need additional equipment to handle exhaust emissions. In relation to these facts, the new LNG vessel is expected to save shipowners or operators an estimated 20 billion Korean won ($17.83 million).
Image: hhpinsight
The new LNG gas turbine technology will lower the operating and maintenance costs, because the gas turbine-powered engine is 60 percent lighter than conventional engines. The new engine type was applied on offshore platforms, onshore power plants, and high-speed ferryboats, reaching over 70 million hours service in order engine’s durability and low vibration/noise to be test-proven.
The vice president of GE Aviation and Marine,Mr. Brien Bolsinger said:
“We have put enormous efforts into developing the world’s first turbine-powered LNG carrier in close cooperation with HHI. With the AIP, we are proud to introduce the eco-friendly and fuel-efficient gas turbine-powered LNG carriers to the market.”
Image: hhpinsight
HHI’s CTO, Mr. Shin Hyun-soo, also added:
“The LNG carrier we introduce today is a culmination of the seamless teamwork of GE and HHI. We will continue to enhance our competitiveness through ongoing technological cooperation including the application of the gas turbine engine to large containerships.”