Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries (HSHI), Hyundai Heavy Industries’ (HHI) shipbuilding affiliate, says that it has won an order to build four 114,000 DWT Ice-Class IA aframax tankers powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Sovcomflot shipping company.
According to the company, these vessels are the world’s first LNG-fueled aframax tankers, measuring 250 meters in length, 44 meters in width and 21 meters in height, and they are scheduled to be delivered from the third quarter of 2018.
By running on LNG, the Ice-Class IA tankers can emit 90% less SOx, 80% less NOx and 15% less CO2, along with 50% reduced engine noise, the company states.
An HSHI official comments, “We believe the winning of the world’s first LNG-fueled aframax tankers is the proof of our world’s leading eco-friendly shipbuilding technology. As the demand for eco-ships increases with tightening environmental regulations, we will further accelerate our efforts to win eco-ship orders.”
Since its first order of six 41,000 DWT bulk carriers in 1989, Sovcomflot has been maintaining a close business partnership with HHI Group by ordering 65 ships in total to date.
