Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD) has delivered a new 50,000dwt liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered bulk carrier to South Korea’s Ilshin Logistics.
The dual-class carrier is classed by both Lloyd’s Register (LR) and Korean Register and has been verified to comply with the International Gas Fuel (IGF) Code.
It is equipped with a 500m³ Type ‘C’ LNG fuel tank, which is made of austenitic high-manganese steel and situated on the aft mooring deck.
The vessel features a new material that has been developed by steelmaker POSCO, which comprises around 26% manganese content and is specially designed for cryogenic LNG and liquefied gas storage applications.
LR has certified and approved the properties and characteristics of the material, as well as the required welding technology and the carrier’s fuel tank design.
The certification was granted in July last year following testing of POSCO’s high-manganese steel welding consumables, as well as various other relevant procedures.
Lloyd’s Register Korea chief representative and marine manager JT Lee said: “The successful delivery of the vessel should be a significant indication to the market of a reasonable and solid solution to the preparation for emission-compliant, eco-friendly designs.”
The new vessel was developed as part of a collaboration between POSCO and Ilshin Logistics that was originally announced in July 2016.
The deal involved the joint development of the first in a new generation of environmentally friendly, LNG-fuelled bulk carriers.
POSCO is set to deploy the vessel to transport limestone cargoes in the Korean coastal trade region.
