- SHI developed its own eco-friendly vessel that does not emit any sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, or carbon dioxide.

- On the 4th, SHI was awarded an Approval in Principle (AiP) by Lloyd’s Register at ‘Posidonia 2024’ in Greece. 

-  SHI is actively responding to the growing demand for ammonia carriers with efforts such as receiving additional approvals for new VLAC vessel types. 

Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) has demonstrated its outstanding technology in ammonia, an eco-friendly fuel, at ‘Posidonia 2024’ held in Athens, Greece.

On the 4th (local time), SHI revealed that it was awarded Approval in Principle (AiP) by the UK-based classification society Lloyd’s Register (LR) for its ‘Ammonia Powered Full-Cell VLAC design’. 

Ammonia fuel-cells use the principle of separating ammonia into hydrogen and nitrogen through a high-temperature catalytic reaction using cracking technology, supplying hydrogen to the fuel cell, and then generating electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen.

`Ammonia Powered Fuel-Cell VLAC`, jointly developed by SHI and the US-based fuel-cell system developer Amogy, is an emission-free and eco-friendly vessel, which does not produce any sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), or carbon dioxide (CO2) by replacing both of its main engines for propulsion and power generation with fuel-cells.

Noise and vibrations in the vessel can be minimized and maintenance costs can be reduced as there is no need for existing internal combustion engines and oil-related equipment.

In addition, SHI has also received major shipping companies’ technical approvals for 96,000CBM (Norway-based DNV, US-based ABS) and 150,000CBM (Korea-based KR) VLACs.

As a result, SHI has completed the development of a variety of VLAC types ranging from 88,000CBM to 210,000CBM, which can pass through the old Panama Canal (33 meters wide) and the new Panama Canal (55 meters wide) and thus can respond actively to the rising demand for vessels to carry ammonia, which is in spotlight as a carbon-free fuel.

“Ammonia is an important solution for realizing the Net-Zero targets of the shipbuilding and shipping industries. Samsung Heavy Industries will be at the forefront of the development of new eco-friendly products,” Jang Hae-Ki, head of SHI’s Technology Development Headquarters (Executive Vice President) underscored.

<Reference> [Posidonia 2024]

Posidonia, held in Athens, Greece, is the world’s largest biennial shipping and ship’s equipment fair, along with Nor-Shipping (Oslo, Norway), another main biennial event. This year, Posidonia will be held from the 4th (local time) to the 7th, with 5 Korean shipbuilders, including Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), participating in the events while jointly running the Korean Pavilion organized by Korea Offshore & Shipbuilding Association (KOSHIPA).