South Korean shipbuilding giant Samsung Heavy Industries has completed the construction of its first LNG-fueled vessels, using its in-house developed technology.
The shipbuilder delivered two LNG-fueled 113,000-dwt oil tankers to an Asian shipowner earlier this year and with both vessels completing the first bunkering at the port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands before beginning operation.
The two oil tankers are the first LNG-fuelled vessels SHI built at its yard. The order was awarded at the end of 2015, and they were delivered this January and February, respectively, SHI said.
Both vessels feature LNG supply system, S-Fugas, developed by SHI that can eliminate Sulphur Oxide (Sox) emissions by 99 percent, Nitrous Oxide (NOx) emissions by 85 percent and Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions by 25 percent, SHI said in a statement.
Currently, LNG as fuel is considered as a cheaper and more eco-friendly alternative than low sulfur oil and scrubber in the long run to meet the IMO 2020 regulations that require the reduction of Sulfur content in fuel to 0.5 percent.
SHI said its own LNG propulsion technology has helped it secure orders for 10 LNG-fuelled ships from international shipowners to date this year.