Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Expands ESG Management Through Marine Ecosystem Conservation

Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries Delivers Tanker, First in Industry to Obtain Underwater Radiated Noise Certification
"Leading Eco-Friendly Future Ship Market by Proactively Securing ESG-Related Technologies"

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering is expanding the scope of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) management by constructing ships that minimize underwater noise, thereby preserving the marine ecosystem.

Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering announced on the 31st that its shipbuilding subsidiary, Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries, successfully built and delivered an 115,000-ton crude oil tanker certified with the underwater radiated noise regulation (Silent E-Notation) by the international certification body DNV.

The underwater radiated noise regulation certification has so far been applied only to special-purpose vessels such as passenger ships, and this is the first time that a cargo ship, which falls under general merchant vessels, has obtained this certification.

Underwater radiated noise refers to noise generated by operating ships that propagates underwater. Along with ship exhaust gases and wastewater, it has been recognized as one of the major marine pollutants caused by ships. In particular, the noise produced by ship propellers overlaps with the frequency bands used by marine mammals such as dolphins, making it one of the most serious causes of marine ecosystem disruption.

As the problem of underwater radiated noise has become more severe due to the increasing size of ships, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is currently discussing solutions to the noise issue and plans to establish practical regulatory measures.

Additionally, governments in Canada, the United States, the EU, and others are actively considering regulations on underwater radiated noise to protect the marine environment, leading to a surge in inquiries from shipowners about eco-friendly low-noise shipbuilding and classification certification.

Since last year, Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering has been developing "ship underwater radiated noise monitoring and noise reduction technology" for marine environmental protection in collaboration with the Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO) and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

A representative from Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering stated, "The significance of obtaining this certification lies in successfully developing and applying technology for preserving the marine ecosystem beyond just building eco-friendly ships. As market demands for ESG strengthen, we will do our best to expand the market through proactive technology acquisition."

Meanwhile, Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering is focusing its capabilities on research and development of future ships such as ammonia-powered vessels, smart electric propulsion vessels, and hydrogen fuel cell propulsion vessels in preparation for the decarbonization era, leading the eco-friendly future ship market.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.