HD Hyundai Heavy, Independently Developed 'Himsen Engine' Reaches Production of 15,000 Units

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has set a record by producing 15,000 units of the 'HiMSEN' engine, developed with Korea's first independent technology.

On the 29th, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries held a 'HiMSEN Engine Production Cumulative 15,000 Units Achievement Ceremony' attended by Han Ju-seok, Head of the Engine Machinery Business, Lee Ki-dong, President of HD Hyundai Marine Solutions, shipowners' supervisors, overseas shipyards, and classification society officials.

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries held a ceremony on the 29th to commemorate the cumulative production of 15,000 units of the 'HiMSEN' engine, independently developed for the first time in Korea. Attendees are taking a commemorative photo. (Photo by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries)

The HiMSEN engine is a 4-stroke medium-speed engine independently developed by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries after over 10 years of research since August 2000. Starting with the first four units produced in 2001, production volume increased significantly each year, reaching a cumulative 5,000 units in February 2011, ten years after production began, and 10,000 units in March 2016, five years later.

Recently, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries produced the 4,320 kW class HiMSEN engine (model: 9H35DF), marking a cumulative production of 15,000 units. This engine is scheduled to be installed on a 16,000 TEU class container ship of the Swiss MSC company, currently under construction at Yangtze River Shipyard in Jiangsu Province, China.

Before the development of the HiMSEN engine, domestic engine companies had to produce products under licenses from overseas firms. Since 2011, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has been producing its own engines 100% in the medium-speed engine sector, exporting to over 60 countries worldwide, and holds the world's number one market share of 35% in the marine medium-speed engine market. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries plans to produce about 1,000 HiMSEN engines this year, with an order backlog of approximately 2,700 units.

In response to increasingly stringent environmental regulations, development of eco-friendly fuel engines such as methanol and ammonia engines is also underway. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries completed the development of the high-performance new HiMSEN H32 model (3~4.5 MW class) methanol engine in the second quarter of last year and is currently developing the H22 model (1.4~2.2 MW class) ammonia engine this year.

The HiMSEN engine, the 15,000th unit produced by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (Photo by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries)

HD Hyundai is advancing to secure the engine aftermarket business through establishing a cooperative system among group companies. HD Hyundai Marine Solutions provides a one-stop aftermarket solution not only for HiMSEN engines but also for all ships equipped with engines produced by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries.

HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering started construction in June last year of the 'MAKEEN' engine factory, a joint venture established through joint investment with Saudi Aramco Development Company (SADCO) and Saudi Industrial Investment Company Dussur. This factory is located in the Ras Al Khair area near Jubail in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, within the King Salman Shipbuilding Industrial Complex, covering an area of 150,000 square meters (approximately 45,000 pyeong).

Full-scale engine production is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025, with an annual maximum production capacity of 30 large marine engines, 235 medium-speed engines, and 160 marine pumps.

Han Ju-seok, CEO, said, "The 'HiMSEN' engine, a result of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' relentless research and technological innovation, is highly regarded not only in Korea but also worldwide. We will do our best to develop eco-friendly engines and improve product quality."

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