At Gastech 2025, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) received approval in principle (AIP) from ABS for their concept design of a 16,000 TEU container ship with an electric propulsion system.
ABS completed design reviews based on class requirements, analysing the power system, including key elements such as power generation, power conversion and propulsion motors.
Electrical applications in the maritime industry
ABS completed design reviews based on class needs, analysing the power system, including key elements
Joshua Divin, ABS Senior Vice President, Marine Business Development, said, "ABS, HD KSOE and HHI share a commitment to leveraging our combined resources and expertise to advance electrical applications in the maritime industry."
He adds, "This AIP is a milestone achievement, and we are proud to work alongside KSOE and HHI to help safely integrate electric propulsion technologies into large seagoing vessels."
IMO 2050 carbon-neutral target
Byoung-Hun Kwon, Head of the HD KSOE Electrification Centre, said: "This achievement represents a strategic step toward meeting the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 2050 carbon-neutral target."
Byoung-Hun Kwon adds, "We will continue to strengthen the trust of global shipping companies by developing eco-friendly and high-efficiency ship technologies at the group level."
Zero-carbon ship technologies
The AIP represents the culmination of the project’s first phase of development. HD Hyundai plans to advance to a second phase in 2026, applying energy storage systems and high-efficiency propulsion drives to further accelerate the commercialisation of zero-carbon ship technologies.
ABS offers industry-pioneering guides on alternative hybrid electrical technologies and certifications for the operation and installation of these technologies on vessels.
