Lloyd's Register (LR), Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE) have collaborated to develop a new generation of LNG vessels with hybrid electric propulsion systems.
Agreement at Gastech 2026
These companies signed an agreement titled Approval in Principle (AiP) at the Gastech 2026 exhibition in Bangkok, which includes the design of an LNG vessel with a capacity of 185,000 cubic meters. This design is equipped with a hybrid electric propulsion system.
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Focus on Development and Safety
This project will focus on the development and safety validation of the propulsion concept, including system architecture, redundancy, and battery integration. Additionally, project partners are working to develop technical guidelines for this technology as industry standards continue to evolve.
Lloyd's Register has stated that hybrid propulsion can lead to improved fuel efficiency and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, this project could lay the foundation for the expansion of electric propulsion systems in other types of vessels.
Andy McCracken, Chief Growth Officer at Lloyd's Register, stated that "hybrid propulsion has clear potential to support improved efficiency and reduced emissions, but its application at this scale requires a robust approach to design and safety."
Hongryul Ryu, CEO and CTO at HHI, noted that this project has helped identify the advantages and limitations of implementing advanced electric propulsion in large vessels.
Kwang-Pyo Chang, Senior Executive Vice President at KSOE's Advanced Research Center, described electric propulsion as central to transitioning the shipping industry towards more efficient and sustainable vessels.
The partners in this project expect that the lessons learned from the LNG vessel project will be applied to future work in electric propulsion, fuel cells, and other advanced shipbuilding concepts.
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