HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co. (HD KSOE) has secured a 538.3 billion won ($371 million) order to build four LNG bunkering vessels, each with a capacity of 18,000 cubic meters.
These ships will be constructed by its subsidiary, HD Hyundai Mipo, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2028, Korea Economic Daily reports. This new order adds to HD KSOE’s total of seven LNG bunker vessel contracts. Meanwhile, HJ Shipbuilding & Construction Co. also received an order for a similar LNG bunkering, valued at 127.1 billion won.
The rising demand for LNG bunkering vessels is largely driven by the shipping industry’s shift toward cleaner fuels, as LNG becomes a favored alternative to traditional marine fuels.
According to data from DNV’s Alternative Fuels Insights (AFI) platform, the number of LNG vessel orders placed in 2024 was 264, over double that of 2023 (130).
This surge in LNG adoption within the maritime industry is also prompting shipbuilders to ramp up their production of specialized LNG bunker ships, responding to the growing expectations for a shift towards low-emission marine fuel solutions.
