HD KSOE unveils eco-friendly scrubber for ammonia-fueled ships

HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering has unveiled new technology that eliminates toxicity for ammonia-fueled vessels.

Park Seung-yong, president and chief operating officer of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, revealed new technology for ammonia-fueled vessels at the Global Tech Forum in Athens on Friday.[HD KSOE]

HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) introduced new technology that eliminates toxicity from ammonia-fueled vessels, advancing the commercialization of eco-friendly ships that produce zero carbon emissions.

A major hurdle in ammonia-powered ships is to safely remove the toxicity of ammonia, to which the Korean shipbuilder said is possible through its new proprietary integrated scrubber technology.

The integrated scrubber is eco-friendly technology that absorbs emitted ammonia on two separate occasions, reducing emissions to nearly zero. The exhaust outlets have also been uniquely designed to be distanced away from where the crew resides, enhancing the safety of the vessel.

HD KSOE revealed the proprietary technology at the Global Tech Forum held in Athens, Greece, on Friday, which gathered more than 100 experts from the global shipbuilding and maritime industry.

The shipbuilder also revealed two additional technologies: an AI-powered ship management system and remote drone system, both of which can detect even the smallest leaks in real time, helping to prevent accidents before they happen.

“HD Hyundai has proprietary technologies and the most experience in the world when it comes to building gas carriers. With our abundant experience in green technologies, we plan to be the front-runner in the future shipbuilding market,” said Park Seung-yong, president and chief operating officer of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, a shipbuilding subsidiary of HD Hyundai.

HD KSOE became the first shipbuilder globally to win contracts for two ammonia-fueled liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers last year, and secured orders for a total of four of these eco-friendly ships.

The company will also attend Posidonia 2024, one of the largest shipbuilding and maritime exhibitions, to showcase its new technologies in Germany. The exhibition is being held through Friday. This year, more than 2,000 companies from 77 countries worldwide are expected to attend.

BY LEE JAE-LIM [lee.jaelim@joongang.co.kr]