HHI & KSOE Receive AIP for Ammonia Carrier
Bureau Veritas (BV) has delivered an approval in principle (AIP) to Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (HHI) and Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co., Ltd. (KSOE) for its innovative design and development of an ammonia carrier with ammonia-fueled propulsion.
Ammonia, which continues to gain interest as a marine fuel worldwide, is one of the main alternative fuel options currently considered by shipping for net zero operations, in line with the targets set up by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the maritime sector by 2030 and 2050.
The design was developed to ensure its compatibility with the existing infrastructure for ammonia, while also reflecting the market’s demand for very large gas carriers (VLGC). The vessel will be 227m long, 36.6m wide, and 23.6m deep – similar dimensions to that of the HHI 91K VLGC design. It will be equipped with four prismatic-type cargo tanks with a total capacity of 91,000 cubic meters. This design was optimized for the safe and efficient carriage of ammonia as a single cargo, thereby maximizing competitiveness for shipowners, both in terms of capex and opex.
Won Ho Joo, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Technical officer of HHI, said, “We are pleased to leverage our expertise towards the green transition pathway for the decarbonization of maritime transport, in line with our continuous commitment as a leader in the shipbuilding industry. We also promise that HHI Group will continue to encourage new value creation to lead the market, satisfying customers’ desire for maximizing their profits with the achievement of ‘GHG zero emission’.”
Matthieu de Tugny, President of Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore, said, “Today’s announcement demonstrates this is a feasible solution that will support our journey towards net zero carbon shipping. We are delighted about the positive outcome of this partnership, and we are excited to see this cooperation paving the way for further successes for both HHI and BV in technology development for newbuild market.”