This photo provided by Samsung Heavy Industries Co. shows an LNG carrier built by the shipbuilder.
SEOUL, July 2 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s leading shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries Co. said Thursday that it had developed the world’s first fuel cell-powered liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier that can operate without engines.
The company said that in collaboration with U.S.-based Bloom Energy, it developed a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC)-powered LNG carrier and received approval in principle for the basic design of the SOFC-powered ship from DNV GL, the Norwegian-German accredited registrar and classification society.
The new fuel cell-powered LNG ship was designed to replace conventional marine propulsion engines as well as internal combustion engines and other devices that run on oil with a SOFC that uses naturally vaporized LNG.
Accordingly, it does not generate common toxic pollutants such as nitrogen and sulfur oxides, as well as greatly reducing the emission of greenhouse gases.
After conducting demonstration tests at a testing facility in its shipyard on Geoje Island, the company plans to launch marketing efforts to attract global shipowners.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
