Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) of South Korea said that despite the recent Supreme Court ruling over LNG boil-off technology it maintains the technological advantage over its compatriots.
To remind, the South Korean Supreme Court nullified the company’s patents on technology used to reliquefy evaporated LNG, following appeals by Samsung Heavy Industries and Hyundai Heavy Industries.
However, following the court ruling, DSME issued a statement saying the company is still holding 35 domestic and seven patents overseas related to its partial reliquefaction system (PRS).
DSME also added it has developed new technologies based on the PRS, holding 210 related patents, which according to the statement will secure the company’s “technical superiority” in the market.
The disputed technology has already been patented in the United States and China as well as Japan where courts dismissed appeals by local shipbuilders.
Although the company’s market position is secure, a DSME official said that following the court ruling, there are concerns that domestic shipbuilding suppliers could face issues expanding to overseas markets.