Hanwha Ocean has been selected as the preferred bidder to construct South Korea’s next-generation icebreaking research vessel, which is expected to significantly enhance the country’s polar exploration capabilities, according to Yonhap.
The shipbuilder was selected as the preferred bidder for the project led by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, which aims to develop an advanced research vessel capable of navigating extreme polar conditions.
The new icebreaker, scheduled for delivery by December 2029, will enter the design phase after the main contract is signed later this month. It will serve as a successor to the Araon, South Korea’s first icebreaking research vessel launched in 2009, and is expected to support polar research in response to accelerating environmental changes and strengthened eco-friendly regulations.
At 16,560 tons, the new vessel will be more than twice the size of the Araon and will feature a dual-fuel liquefied natural gas (LNG) electric propulsion system, enabling it to break through ice up to 1.5 meters thick in both forward and reverse directions.
The vessel will also be capable of operating in temperatures as low as minus 45 C.
To ensure optimal research performance in extreme conditions, the ship will be equipped with premium onboard facilities, such as cabins, lounges and dining areas, offering comfort on par with luxury passenger vessels.
Hanwha Ocean began investing in polar-class shipbuilding technologies in 2008 and currently holds the world’s largest track record in constructing icebreaking LNG carriers. The company has successfully built 21 such vessels, receiving 15 orders in 2014 and the other six in 2020.
“We will leverage the full capacity of our shipyard to deliver a cutting-edge solution for Korea’s polar missions,” a company official said.