The World’s First LNG-powered Bulk Carrier
POSCO announced on Jan. 20 that HL Green, one of its two LNG-fueled bulk carriers, has arrived at the dock of the Gwangyang Steel Mill carrying 190,000 tons of iron ore from Australia. The eco-friendly vessel departed from Mokpo on the nation’s coast in December.
Last December, POSCO launched HL Green and HL ECO, the world’s first LNG-fueled bulk carriers. Both vessels can carry up to 180,000 tons. They are 292 meters long, 45 meters wide and 24.8 meters tall.
LNG fuel can reduce sulfur oxides (SOX) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) emissions, the two main sources of fine dust, by 99 percent and 85 percent, respectively, compared to bunkering oil.
POSCO said LH Green has become the world’s first LNG-powered bulk carrier to make a successful overseas operation.
POSCO decided to build the two eco-friendly industrial carriers in December 2018 before international organizations began to introduce toughened environmental regulations.
Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries designed and built the two LNG-fueled ships. POSCO contributed to boosting the competitiveness of the Korean-made eco-friendly ships by developing 9 percent nickel steel used for manufacturing cryogenic fuel tanks. Korean shipbuilders have thus far imported the special steel to build the cryogenic fuel tanks.
Apart from building the two LNG-powered ships, POSCO has completed the installation of desulfurization facilities on 20 of its 38 bulk carriers. It plans to convert the remaining ships into eco-friendly vessels in consultation with shipping companies and shipbuilders.