Lloyd’s Register, HD Korea and Hyundai gain preliminary approval for hybrid LNG carrier

They will develop safety guidance for the propulsion system.

Lloyd’s Register (LR), HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE), and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) have joined forces to develop a new generation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier designs using hybrid electric propulsion.

An Approval in Principle was signed at Gastech 2026 in Bangkok to advance the design of a 185,000-cubic metre LNG carrier with hybrid electric propulsion, LR said in a statement on 14 September.

The partners will conduct safety verification of the vessel’s hybrid electric propulsion system, focusing on system architecture, redundancy philosophy, and battery integration.

The project also aims to develop guidance and technical requirements for the technology to support wider adoption across the LNG carrier market.

LR said early involvement will support the development of technical guidance for hybrid electric propulsion, where formalised standards are still evolving.

The project is expected to generate insights beyond LNG carriers, informing future developments in electric propulsion, fuel cell integration and other advanced vessel concepts.

“Hybrid electric propulsion has clear potential to support efficiency gains and emissions reduction, but its application at this scale requires a robust approach to design and safety,” said Andy McKeran, Chief Growth Officer of LR.

Hongryeul Ryu, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of HD HHI, said the project helped identify the advantages and disadvantages of applying an advanced electric propulsion system.

He said the findings could support the development of more efficient propulsion systems.

Kwang-Pil Chang, Senior Executive Vice President - Advanced Research Center at HD KSOE, said the company aims to expand the application of electric propulsion technologies across a broader range of vessel types.