Green-ship Certification Center Opens in Korea

Announced in 2012 as the world’s first green-ship equipment certification center, The Korean Register – an IACS member class society, and founding partner in the project –announced that the center has opened for business earlier this month in Gunsan, Jeonbuk, Korea.

Costing a total of $29.4 million (30 billion won), the new center will test, evaluate and certify green-ship equipment. Fully supported by Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the center will also carry out joint research and development projects focusing on green-ship technology, expand Korea’s test and certification business and attract related businesses to the area.

The center was created in response to IMO’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction and maritime pollution regulations and will enable KR and its partners to lead the way in certifying essential green-ship components, including engines, KR said.

Jung Young-jun, Executive Vice President and acting Chairman & CEO of KR commented, “The completion of the center means that we have created a solid foundation of infrastructure to certify green-ship components and machinery. This allows us to facilitate the development of technology to respond to IMOs greenhouse gas reduction and other environmental regulations. We expect to revitalize the marine equipment industry by establishing a holistic cooperative forum with relevant research institutes, organizations and academic institutions as well as shipyards and marine equipment businesses.”

The new center is equipped with an 8MW-class engine test-bed, hybrid power systems, a fuel Q/P and emission bench, Organic Ranking Cycle (ORC) systems and other facilities. According to KR, the 8MW-class engine test-bed is the first to be available anywhere in the world and is attracting significant interest from major shipyards.

krs.co.kr