Hanwha Ocean Delivers 200th LNG Carrier Worldwide for the First Time... "Unrivaled Competitiveness"

No. 1 in LNG Carrier Market Share
Full Lineup of LNG Equipment

Hanwha Ocean has delivered the world's 200th liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier for the first time. Hanwha Ocean's unparalleled competitiveness has once again been proven in the global LNG carrier market.

The first LNG carrier built by Hanwha Ocean in 1995, the 'Hanjin Pyeongtaek,' in operation. Photo by Hanwha Ocean

On the 20th, Hanwha Ocean announced that it had delivered the 200th LNG carrier it built, the 'LEBRETHAH', to SK Shipping. The LEBRETHAH will be deployed and operated in Qatar Energy's North Field expansion project. The operating company is Korea Green LNG (KGL), composed of three domestic companies: SK Shipping, H Line Shipping, and Pan Ocean.

Equipped with a low-pressure dual-fuel propulsion engine (ME-GA) and reliquefaction facilities, the LEBRETHAH is an eco-friendly vessel that can significantly reduce emissions of air pollutants. The latest technologies, including Hanwha Ocean's smart ship solution HS4, were also applied for efficient vessel operation.

Hanwha Ocean has established a technological system capable of constructing four vessels simultaneously at Dock 1. Through this, it has secured the highest-ever production capacity, able to build up to 25 LNG carriers annually.

Furthermore, Hanwha Ocean has built a full product lineup of LNG-related equipment, including LNG carriers and icebreaking LNG carriers. In particular, Hanwha Ocean, which was the first in the world to build icebreaking LNG carriers, LNG-RVs, LNG-FSRUs, and LNG-FPSOs, is recognized for its unrivaled LNG-related technological capabilities in the global market.

The 200th LNG carrier built by Hanwha Ocean, SK Shipping's 'Lebrethah' in operation. Photo by Hanwha Ocean

Hanwha Ocean's technological superiority has also translated into the achievement of the number one market share. Amid the globally increasing demand for LNG and growing requirements for eco-friendly vessels, Hanwha Ocean has improved fuel efficiency by developing, for the first time in the world, partial reliquefaction systems and full reliquefaction systems for high-pressure and low-pressure engines. It has also secured differentiated competitiveness through the development of carbon reduction technologies.

Hanwha Ocean is expected to benefit from U.S. President Donald Trump's fossil fuel policies. As U.S. LNG projects resume, demand for LNG carriers is anticipated to increase. Global shipbuilding and shipping investment finance firm Clarkson Securities analyzed that global newbuilding demand for LNG carriers will reach up to 126 vessels by 2029. This corresponds to a scale of approximately 47 trillion won.

The industry expects Korean shipbuilders to gain a reflective benefit in terms of international affairs, such as Chinese shipyards being listed on the U.S. blacklist. In particular, there are forecasts that Hanwha Ocean, which has strengths in LNG carriers, will be the biggest beneficiary.

Kim Jong-seo, President of Hanwha Ocean's Merchant Ship Division, said, "With changes in U.S. fossil fuel policies, the importance of LNG in the global energy market is further highlighted. We take pride in Hanwha Ocean as the best shipyard that meets the demands of global shipowners with overwhelming technological capabilities."

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