Ulsan: HD Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) Co. announced on Monday that it has signed a 538.3 billion-won (US$370 million) contract to construct four liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering vessels for an African shipping company.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the vessels are to be built at HD Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, an affiliate of HD KSOE, located in Ulsan. The construction is scheduled for completion with deliveries expected sequentially by the second half of 2028. Each of the ordered ships will have a length of 143 meters and a cargo capacity of 18,000 cubic meters.
LNG bunkering vessels are specifically designed for supplying LNG to other ships at sea through ship-to-ship transfer methods. The need for such vessels is on the rise as the International Maritime Organization enforces stricter environmental regulations and promotes the use of cleaner fuels within the shipping industry.
A company official stated, “We plan to take the lead in the eco-friendly shipbuilding sector, including LNG bunkering vessels and liquefied carbon dioxide carriers.”