Shipping Giants Come Together To Develop New LNG Carrier Designs Using Hybrid Electric Propulsion

Hybrid electric propulsion is expected to play an increasingly important role in improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions.

Lloyd’s Register (LR) has joined forces with HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE) and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) to develop a new generation of LNG carrier designs using hybrid electric propulsion.

The partners signed an Approval in Principle (AiP) at Gastech 2026 in Bangkok to advance the design of a 185,000 cbm LNG carrier featuring a hybrid electric propulsion system.

Under the AiP, the partners will work on the development and safety verification of the vessel’s hybrid electric propulsion system, with a focus on strengthening system architecture, redundancy philosophy and battery integration. The project also aims to develop guidance and technical requirements for this emerging technology, providing a framework to demonstrate support wider adoption across the LNG carrier market.

For LR, early involvement will support the development of technical guidance in an area where formalised standards are still evolving, strengthening its ability to support future projects involving electric propulsion systems and low-carbon vessel concepts.

The partners expect the project to generate insights that extend beyond LNG carriers, informing future developments in electric propulsion, fuel cell integration and other advanced vessel concepts.

Andy McKeran, Chief Growth Officer, 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.”

Hongryeul Ryu, Executive Vice President & CTO, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, said: “HD HHI has proactively adopted eco-friendly technologies to comply with environmental regulations. Through this recent project, we were able to identify the various advantages and disadvantages of applying an advanced electric propulsion system. Building upon these insights, we expect this experience to serve as a valuable foundation for developing and implementing more efficient propulsion systems in the future.”

Kwang-Pil Chang, Senior Executive Vice President – Advanced Research Center, HD KSOE, said: “Electric propulsion is at the heart of the maritime industry’s transition toward more sustainable and efficient vessels. We are continuously advancing our electric propulsion technologies and solutions to lead this transition and enable their application across a broader range of vessel types. Through close collaboration with our partners, we will continue to strengthen our technological leadership and shape the future of electric shipping.”

Press Release