Contract signed with Jeju Glass Bottom Boat
Vessels to carry self-developed 4.4 MWh battery system
To enter service on Seongsanhang–Udo route from 2027
Largest privately operated car ferry built domestically
'Opening of commercial coastal passenger vessel electrification market'
HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering is moving to commercialize a fully electric car ferry — a vessel designed to carry both passengers and vehicles.
The company, which serves as the intermediate holding company for HD Hyundai's shipbuilding operations, announced Wednesday that it recently signed a contract with maritime tourism operator Jeju Glass Bottom Boat to supply an electric propulsion system for two electric car ferries.
The two vessels to be built under the contract will each measure 60 meters in length and 13 meters in width, displacing 450 tons, and will be capable of carrying 400 passengers and 20 vehicles simultaneously. HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering will handle the project on a turnkey basis, covering the supply of core electric propulsion components — including power conversion devices, electric thrusters and a power and energy management system — as well as system integration and sea trials.
The vessels will be equipped with BADA-100, a marine battery system developed in-house by HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering. BADA-100 is a high-output, high-efficiency marine ESS with a total installed capacity of 4.4 MWh per vessel.
Car ferries are considered well-suited to electric propulsion because they dock and depart frequently and often operate at low speeds near ports. Electric motors allow for fast, smooth power adjustment, enabling precise maneuvering. The reduced noise and vibration also make them advantageous on island routes with heavy tourist and resident traffic.
The vessels will be built at a domestic shipyard and are scheduled to enter service sequentially from 2027 on the Jeju Island route between Seongsanhang and Udo. They will be the largest car ferries built domestically and operated by a private company, and the first to use a fully electric propulsion system.
"This project marks the opening of the commercial coastal passenger vessel electrification market in South Korea, and builds on our track record of applying a DC-Grid system to the Taehwa, a whale-watching tourism vessel in Ulsan," an HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering official said. "We will continue to expand our eco-friendly propulsion solution business on the strength of our advanced technology and integrated capabilities in electric propulsion systems."
keg@heraldcorp.com
