Lloyd’s Register (LR), HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) and Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly develop a high-efficiency hybrid propulsion system integrated with Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) technology for 174,000 cubic metre LNG carriers.
The agreement, signed at Norshipping 2025, establishes the framework for a Joint Development Project (JDP) for a hybrid propulsion system that offers significant advantages in terms of efficiency, emissions reduction and operational flexibility compared to conventional propulsion systems.
Under the terms of the MoU, HD KSOE and HHI will lead the design, while LR will provide technical guidance, design review services and expertise to ensure compliance with applicable regulations and standards.
Sung-Gu Park, President – North East Asia, Lloyd's Register, said: “By collaborating on complex, high-impact projects such as this, LR reinforces its position as a leading technical authority and decarbonisation partner. By combining our technical expertise with HD KSOE and HHI’s innovative design capabilities, we’re developing solutions that will help the industry meet its sustainability targets while maintaining operational efficiency.”
(l-r) Kwang-Pil Chang, Senior Executive Vice President, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering; Andy McKeran, Chief Commercial Officer, LR; Hong-Ryeul Ryu, Executive Vice President, CTO, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries.
Chang Kwangpil, Senior Executive Vice President of HD KSOE, said: “Through this partnership, we are able to demonstrate our technological leadership in hybrid propulsion vessels. This underscores our proactive commitment to meeting increasingly stringent environmental regulations and driving forward sustainable shipping solutions.”
Ryu Hong-Ryeul, CTO and Executive Vice President of HHI, added: “This JDP represents a crucial step towards the commercialisation of zero-carbon fuel technologies for large LNG carriers. We’re confident that this hybrid system will deliver substantial environmental benefits while meeting the operational requirements of shipowners and charterers.”
Source: Lloyd’s Register