BV awards AIP to South Korean yards for ammonia-fueled VLGC

Bureau Veritas (BV) has granted an approval in principle (AIP) to South Korean shipbuilders Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering (KSOE) for the design and development of an ammonia carrier with ammonia-fuelled propulsion.

The design was developed to ensure its compatibility with the existing infrastructure for ammonia, while also reflecting the market’s demand for very large gas carriers (VLGCs).

The vessel will be 227 metres long, 36.6 metres wide, and 23.6 metres deep – similar dimensions to that of an existing HHI VLGC design. It will be equipped with four prismatic-type cargo tanks with a total capacity of 91,000 cubic meters.

The partners said the design was optimised for the safe and efficient carriage of ammonia as a single cargo, thereby maximising competitiveness for shipowners, both in terms of CAPEX and OPEX.