Bureau Veritas (BV), a world leader in testing, inspection, and certification, has delivered an Approval in Principle (AiP) to Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (HHI) and Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore EngineeringCo., Ltd. (KSOE) for its innovative design and development of an ammonia carrier with ammonia-fuelled propulsion. The certificate was delivered to Dong Jin Lee, Vice President of HHI by Matthieu de Tugny, President Marine & Offshore at Bureau Veritas, at a ceremony on BV’s Gastech exhibition stand in Dubai.

The design was developed to ensure its compatibility with the existing infrastructure for ammonia, while also reflecting the market’s demand for very large gas carriers (VLGCs). The vessel will be 227m long, 36.6m wide, and 23.6m deep – similar dimensions to that of the HHI 91K VLGC design. It will be equipped with four (4) prismatic-type cargo tanks with a total capacity of 91,000 cubic meters. This design was optimised for the safe and efficient carriage of ammonia as a single cargo, thereby maximising competitiveness for shipowners, both in terms of CAPEX and OPEX.

This innovative design builds on HHI’s expertise and experience with the transport of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), ensuring the safety of vessel and crew, managing the toxicity of ammonia, and supporting stable global supply chains. It will help HHI secure a leading position as a provider of ammonia propulsion technologies, as interest for ammonia as a marine fuel continues to grow worldwide.

Ammonia is one of the main alternative fuel options currently considered by shipping for net zero operations, in line with the targets set up by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the maritime sector by 2030 and 2050.