Lloyd’s Register (LR) has entered into a joint development project (JDP) with HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE) and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) to advance next-generation LNG carrier designs incorporating hybrid electric propulsion.
The agreement was signed on 2 June at Posidonia 2026 and focuses on the development of a 185,000 cbm LNG carrier equipped with a hybrid electric propulsion system.
Under the JDP, the partners will work on system design and safety verification, with particular emphasis on propulsion architecture, redundancy concepts and battery integration.
The project will also explore technical requirements and guidance for hybrid electric systems, aiming to establish a framework that could support broader industry adoption.
For LR, early-stage involvement is expected to help shape emerging technical standards for electric propulsion systems, an area where formal regulatory frameworks remain under development.
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The classification society said this would strengthen its ability to support future vessel designs incorporating low- and zero-emission technologies.
The collaboration is also expected to generate wider insights applicable beyond LNG carriers, including future applications in fuel cell systems and alternative propulsion technologies across different vessel types.
Sung-Gu Park, President – North East Asia, Lloyd’s Register, said: “Hybrid electric propulsion has clear potential to support efficiency gains and emissions reduction, but its application at this scale requires a robust approach to design and safety. By working in partnership from the earliest stages, we can help shape practical, reliable solutions that support wider deployment across the industry.”
For more information:
Lloyd’s Register – https://www.lr.org/en/
