KSOE, DNV GL Sign Low-Carbon Emissions MOU

DNV GL and Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE), a sub-holding company of Hyundai Heavy Industries’ shipbuilding and offshore business, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to cooperate on the development of low- and zero-carbon ship technology. The signing took place at the recent Gastech trade fair in Houston, Texa, US and was attended by Ki-Sun Chung, Senior Executive Vice President, and Won-Ho Joo, Director of the Advanced Research Center from KSOE, as well as Conn Fagan, Vice President, and Sung-Ho Shin from DNV GL.

The parties said that the MOU was a response to the growing market, public, and regulatory pressure on the shipping industry to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions: “We expect DNV GL’s accumulated data on future ship fuel will be combined with HHI’s advanced gas engineering technology in order to come up with innovative technology standards,” commented Won-Ho Joo of KSOE.

The purpose of the MOU is to develop cutting-edge solutions for zero-emission ship technologies and will include further studies on LNG as a fuel for ships and an assessment on its potential as a transitional step to zero-carbon options. LNG is currently the leading low-emission/lower-carbon fuel, however, KSOE and DNV GL conduct research on assessing future ship fuels, hydrogen, ammonia and biofuels in addition to LNG, to verify both the fuel supply and propulsion systems to use those fuels, and to assess bunkering convenience and safety.

“Alongside improvements to energy efficiency, new low- and zero-carbon fuels will play an essential role in the maritime industry of the future,” said Conn Fagan of DNV GL. “The ongoing energy transition is starting to reshape the shipping industry and this collaboration is an opportunity to provide competitive and practical solutions to the entire industry.”