Shipbuilders unveil eco-friendly vessel technologies at Gastech 2026

At the Gastech 2026 exhibition in Bangkok, major South Korean shipbuilding firms and global classification societies announced several technological advancements aimed at decarbonizing the maritime industry.

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and its affiliates secured multiple Approvals in Principle (AiP) for diverse vessel designs. These include a 271,000 CBM LNG carrier, a 50,000 CBM LPG carrier, and a cruise-focused LNG bunkering vessel. Additionally, HHI is collaborating with Lloyd’s Register and Korean Register on hybrid electric propulsion for LNG carriers and wind-assisted propulsion systems using WindWings and Wind Challenger technology.

Hanwha Ocean and Hanwha Power also showcased significant progress. Hanwha Ocean received AiP for standard Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) designs and high-manganese steel cargo tanks for Very Large Ethane Carriers (VLEC). Hanwha Power announced AiP for a 22,000 CBM LNG bunkering vessel featuring hybrid electric propulsion and energy storage systems designed to facilitate future transitions to ammonia.

Other industry developments include Babcock LGE receiving approval for cargo handling technology that could reduce reliquefaction energy use by 25%, and a joint project between Lloyd’s Register, Seapeak, and Kongsberg Maritime to verify continuous emissions monitoring systems on LNG-fueled vessels.