HD Hyundai, Hanwha vie for leadership in eco-friendly ship market

An HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering official introduces the company's new technologies for ammonia-powered ships to shipbuilding and shipping company officials from around the world at the Global Tech Forum in the Greek capital of Athens, Friday (local time). Courtesy of HD Hyundai

HD Hyundai and Hanwha sent representatives of their shipbuilding units to the Greek capital of Athens to introduce their technologies for ammonia-powered ships and other eco-friendly vessels during Posidonia 2024, an international shipping exhibition this week, both companies said Monday.

In addition to HD Hyundai Vice Chairman Chung Ki-sun, chief executives of the business group’s four shipbuilding affiliates will attend the event to discuss cooperation with global shipping firms and ship classification societies.

HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE) and three other shipbuilding affiliates will display miniatures of their methanol dual-fuel very large crude carrier (VLCC) and container ship, as well as a futuristic liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier, at the exhibition booth of the Korea Offshore & Shipbuilding Association (KOSHIPA).

In addition, HD Hyundai will open a separate booth to exhibit the miniatures of its dual-fuel engine and remodeled LNG carrier.

Last Friday (local time), HD KSOE invited representatives of global shipbuilding and shipping companies to the Global Tech Forum to unveil the company’s technology that can remove toxic gas emissions from ammonia fuel.

“HD Hyundai has proprietary technologies and the most experience in the world when it comes to building gas carriers,” HD Hyundai Heavy Industries President Park Seung-yong said. “With our abundant experience in green technologies, we plan to be the frontrunner of the future shipbuilding market.”

An illustration of Hanwha Ocean's ammonia-powered very large ammonia carrier (VLAC) / Courtesy of Hanwha Ocean

Hanwha Ocean will also display a miniature of its ammonia-powered very large ammonia carrier (VLAC) at KOSHIPA’s exhibition booth. The VLAC is equipped with shaft generator motors that can reduce fuel consumption, as well as with the Hanwha SmartShip Solution & Service (HS4), a smartship platform developed by the company.

The shipbuilder also plans to collaborate with global classification societies at the event for the construction of eco-friendly ships.

“Posidonia 2024 will be a great opportunity to showcase our overwhelming eco-friendly technologies to global ship owners,” a Hanwha Ocean official said. “With this opportunity, we will take the lead in the eco-friendly vessel market.”

Along with Norway’s Nor-Shipping and Germany’s Shipbuilding, Machinery & Marine, Posidonia is one of the world’s three largest international shipping exhibitions. Its organizer expects over 2,000 companies from at least 77 countries to participate in this year’s event, which will be held from Monday to Friday.