KR, Hanwha Ocean to develop 18,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel

Designs will use MCTIB and independent Type-C cargo tanks.

Korean Register (KR) and Hanwha Ocean have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to jointly develop two design concepts for an 18,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel (LBV).

The project comes as tighter international greenhouse gas emissions regulations and the growing number of LNG-fueled vessels increase demand for reliable LNG fuel supply infrastructure. LNG bunkering vessels enable ship-to-ship LNG fuel transfers at sea.

KR and Hanwha Ocean will develop two 18,000-cbm LBV concepts featuring different cargo containment systems to address varying bunkering and operational requirements.

One concept will use Hanwha Ocean’s MCTIB (High Manganese Steel Cargo Tank Independent Type-B) LNG cargo tank solution, while the other will feature independent Type-C tanks. Both designs will focus on combining reliable cargo operations with economic efficiency.

Hanwha Ocean will lead the basic design and vessel performance assessment, including the development of the cargo tank arrangement, LNG bunkering system and operational concept.

KR will conduct a comprehensive review from the early design stage, covering safety, regulatory compliance and operational efficiency in line with applicable international conventions and classification rules.

Based on the technical review, KR will also conduct an Approval in Principle (AIP) assessment to support the technical reliability and potential commercialisation of the LNG bunkering vessel concepts.