HJ Shipbuilding & Construction (formerly Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction) has come up with designs for LNG-fuelled 7,700 TEU ships and has obtained in-principle approval from Lloyd’s Register.
The shipyard has won orders for 5,500 TEU ships from German tonnage provider MPC Container Ships and wants to attract orders for Neo-Panamaxes.
HJ Shipbuilding was renamed in December 2021, after emerging from a creditor-led debt restructuring, when a consortium led by construction firm Dongbu Corporation acquired a 66.85% stake in the shipbuilder from its main creditor, Korea Development Bank.
Strong demand for container shipping has revived the shipbuilder, which won four 5,500 TEU ship orders from MPC in September 2021, for delivery in 2023. In March, MPC contracted another two similar vessels at HJ Shipbuilding, for delivery in 2024.
Boxships in the 7,000-8,000 TEU range are in high demand now, as liner operators see these as the future workhorses on the Far East-Persian Gulf lane. MSC, China United Lines, Seaspan Corporation and Danaos Corporation are among those that have commissioned such newbuildings.
HJ Shipbuilding and Lloyd’s Register signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in November 2021, with the shipbuilder handling the vessel design, and the classification society reviewing and approving the design.
The ship is 272m long and has a maximum speed of 22 knots and has a 6,000 ㎥ GTT Mark III LNG tank.
HJ Shipbuilding said, “With this basic design approval, we have secured high-efficiency, eco-friendly shipbuilding technology that can meet the IMO’s environmental regulations and respond to the rapidly changing market by meeting the various needs of ship owners.”
“As carbon neutrality becomes a hot topic in the shipping and shipbuilding industries, the demand for alternative marine fuels such as methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen will increase in the medium and long term.”
Martina Li
Asia Correspondent
