HHI, KSOE, and Lloyd's Register to Develop Hybrid-Electric LNG Carriers

Lloyd's Register (LR) has partnered with HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE) and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) to develop a new generation of LNG carrier designs utilizing hybrid-electric propulsion.

At the Gastech 2026 exhibition in Bangkok, the partners signed an Approval in Principle (AiP) to advance the design of a 185,000 cubic meter LNG carrier with a hybrid-electric propulsion system.

Andy McKeran, Chief Growth Officer at Lloyd's Register, stated that "hybrid electric propulsion has clear potential to improve efficiency and reduce emissions, but its application at this scale requires a rigorous approach to design and safety. By collaborating from the early stages, we can contribute to developing practical and reliable solutions that facilitate its wider implementation across the sector."

Hongryeul Ryu, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, added that "HD HHI has proactively adopted eco-friendly technologies to comply with environmental regulations. Thanks to this recent project, we were able to identify the various advantages and disadvantages of applying an advanced electric propulsion system. Building on this knowledge, we expect this experience to serve as a valuable foundation for the development and implementation of more efficient propulsion systems in the future."

Under the AiP, the partners will work on the development and safety verification of the vessel's hybrid-electric propulsion system, focusing on strengthening the system architecture, redundancy philosophy, and battery integration. The project also seeks to develop technical guidelines and requirements for this emerging technology, providing a framework to demonstrate its support for greater market adoption of LNG carriers.

For LR, early involvement will contribute to the development of technical guidelines in an area where formalized standards are still evolving, strengthening its ability to support future projects involving electric propulsion systems and low-carbon vessel concepts.

The partners expect the project to generate insights that extend beyond LNG carriers, serving as a basis for future developments in electric propulsion, fuel cell integration, and other advanced vessel concepts.