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Kim Hoon-min, head of Hanwha Power's marine solution business division, and an ABS official pose for a commemorative photo after receiving Approval in Principle (AiP) certification at Gastech 2026.

Hanwha Power announced on the 16th that it received Approval in Principle (AiP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for the conceptual design of a 22,000-cubic-meter LNG bunkering vessel at Gastech 2026, held in Bangkok, Thailand. AiP is an approval process that verifies whether a vessel's novel design or technology complies with a classification society's safety and technical standards.

The design incorporates multi-cargo handling capabilities to accommodate both LNG and ammonia. By adopting high-manganese steel cargo tanks, the vessel is engineered to adapt with minimal structural modifications when maritime fuel transitions toward alternatives such as ammonia in the future.

Taking into account the operating profile of bunkering vessels, which primarily navigate coastal waters, the design also incorporates a hybrid electric propulsion system integrated with an onshore power supply (OPS) system and an energy storage system (ESS). This configuration is intended to reduce emissions and enhance operational efficiency during berthing and coastal navigation.

Hanwha Power plans to commercialize this development into an integrated engineering and procurement (EP) package by combining proprietary technologies across the group, including dual-fuel generators, ESS, power control and grid integration, vessel automation systems, and cargo handling systems.

At Gastech, the company set up a joint exhibition pavilion alongside Hanwha Ocean and Hanwha Engine, showcasing the group's comprehensive marine and energy portfolio spanning vessels, propulsion systems, and equipment.

Kim Hoon-min, head of Hanwha Power's marine solution business division, said, "Securing AiP from ABS once again proves our technical reliability and commercial viability in the global eco-friendly vessel market," adding, "Leveraging the group's green technology capabilities, we will provide integrated solutions to global shipowners."

                                                                                                          Lee Seo-yeon