Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) has succeeded in developing a VLCC (Very Large Crude Carrier) that uses liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a fuel. With bunker C oil and diesel, which are mostly used as fuel for ships, being blamed for greenhouse gases due to high air pollution, it is expected that the company will start to tap into the large eco-friendly ship market.
SHI said on June 9 that it has succeeded in developing a 300,000-ton VLCC that uses LNG as fuel. It used S-Fugas, an LNG fuel supply system, which is an independent technology of SHI, and Saver Air, a fuel saving device.
At the International Ship Fair "Nor-Shipping 2019" in Oslo, Norway on June 6 (local time), the company also obtained an approval in principle (AIP) for the "LNG Fuel-Driven VLCC" from Lloyd of the British Shipboard Association.
The AIP is a procedure to verify the technical suitability of the ship's design, meaning that full-fledged order activities are possible with the acquisition of official certification for the vessel in question.
The "LNG Fuel-Driven VLCC" can effectively respond to regulations on sulfur oxide emissions that will be implemented from 2020 (3.5% to 0.5%) and greatly reduce operating costs by reducing fuel consumption.
SHI has been proving its technological prowess in the eco-friendly ship market, successfully delivering two 113,000-ton oil tankers with its own LNG fuel-propelled technology earlier this year. Based on this, it has expanded to 300,000-ton VLCC this time.
"We are planning to increase our competitive edge in winning orders by developing new eco-friendly large ships that focus on protecting the environment and maximizing operating costs," a SHI official said.
