HJ Shipbuilding wins approval for 10,000-TEU biofuel container vessel design

HJ Shipbuilding announced Friday that it has received Approval in Principle from the Korean Register for a 10,000-TEU biofuel-powered container vessel design.

HJ Shipbuilding CEO Yoo Sang-cheol and Korean Register Executive Vice President Cho Byung-sam signed the certification Thursday at the Posidonia maritime exhibition in Athens. Posidonia ranks among the world's three premier shipbuilding and maritime trade shows, alongside Nor-Shipping in Norway and SMM in Hamburg, Germany.

Marine biofuel blends a proportion of plant- or animal-based biofuel with conventional fossil-fuel bunker oil to reduce carbon emissions. The fuel is gaining traction as a green alternative across the shipping industry and at major ports worldwide, driven by tightening International Maritime Organization carbon regulations and expanding EU environmental rules, including the FuelEU Maritime regulation and the EU Emissions Trading System.

As shipowners attending Posidonia show growing interest in biofuel, shipyards face mounting pressure to secure the relevant technology and respond to market demand proactively.

HJ Shipbuilding partnered with the Korean Register last year to develop the technology, applying a biofuel propulsion system to a 10,000-TEU container vessel under construction and conducting research throughout the process. The company completed the technical development last month and obtained the certification Friday.

The approval carries significant weight as both organizations have formally confirmed the technical feasibility and safety of the design against applicable regulations and safety standards. HJ Shipbuilding is expected to pursue additional orders by leveraging its high-value green technology for mid- to large-size biofuel-powered container vessels, while the Korean Register aims to accelerate the eco-friendly transition of vessels built in South Korea.

"Developing biofuel propulsion technology for container vessels is expected to have a positive effect on our sales and order activities in the green ship market," Yoo said. "Building decarbonized vessels is essential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and we will earn shipowners' trust through technological competitiveness."