ABS issued approval in principle to HD Hyundai Mipo for its design development of a 30,000 CBM liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrying and bunkering vessel at Gastech 2025 in Milan, Italy.
The design is intended to carry LNG as cargo as well as bunker fuel for a wide variety of receiving vessels. ABS completed design reviews based on class and statutory requirements.
“LNG continues to be an important option in the alternative fuel mix. We are proud to support pioneering clients like HD Hyundai Mipo whose design has the potential to support LNG supply quickly and efficiently,” said Joshua Divin, ABS Senior Vice President, Marine Business Development.
Dongjin Lee, Executive Vice President, Head of Initial Design Division & Detailed Design Division at HD Hyundai Mipo, said: “The newly developed dual-purpose 30K LNGC/LNGBV highlights our commitment to advancing flexible and sustainable energy transport. By integrating bunkering functions into a LNG carrier, the vessel is designed to meet rising global demand while supporting the maritime sector’s transition to cleaner fuels.”
At Gastech 2025, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) received approval in principle (AIP) from ABS for their concept design of a 16,000 TEU container ship with an electric propulsion system.
ABS completed design reviews based on class requirements, analyzing the power system including key elements such as power generation, power conversion and propulsion motors.
“ABS, HD KSOE and HHI share a commitment to leveraging our combined resources and expertise to advance electrical applications in the maritime industry. This AIP is a milestone achievement, and we are proud to work alongside KSOE and HHI to help safely integrate electric propulsion technologies into large seagoing vessels,” said Joshua Divin, ABS Senior Vice President, Marine Business Development.
Byoung-Hun Kwon, head of the HD KSOE Electrification Center, said: “This achievement represents a strategic step toward meeting the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 2050 carbon-neutral target. We will continue to strengthen the trust of global shipping companies by developing eco-friendly and high-efficiency ship technologies at the group level.”
The AIP represents the culmination of the project’s first phase of development. HD Hyundai plans to advance to a second phase in 2026, applying energy storage systems and high-efficiency propulsion drives to further accelerate the commercialization of zero-carbon ship technologies.