Lloyd’s Register (LR), HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and GTT have signed a joint development project agreement to develop and technically assess a 150,000-cubic-metre ultra-large ethane carrier (ULEC) incorporating GTT’s Mark III Slim cargo containment system.
Announced at Gastech 2026 in Bangkok, the project will
combine HHI’s shipbuilding expertise, GTT’s cargo containment technology and
LR’s classification and technical assurance capabilities.
The vessel design will be developed and reviewed in
accordance with LR Rules.
The 150,000-cubic-metre concept is the largest design
proposed for the ethane carrier segment.
The partners said growing ethane trade and the importance of
voyage economics are driving interest in larger vessels capable of carrying
greater cargo volumes while maintaining safety, operational efficiency and
reliability.
Under the project, the companies will assess the technical
challenges involved in increasing ethane carrier capacity to 150,000 cubic
metres.
The work will cover vessel design, cargo containment
integration, safety requirements and compliance with classification and
regulatory standards.
The collaboration is intended to establish a technical
foundation for future ultra-large ethane carriers and provide greater insight
into the design, operational and safety considerations involved in vessels of
this scale.
Constantinos Chaelis, Global Gas Segment Director, LR, said:
“As the ethane trade expands, owners are looking for larger and more efficient
vessel concepts that can deliver operational and commercial advantages without
compromising safety or reliability. This collaboration provides an opportunity
to apply our advanced gas carrier expertise to the development of a credible
and technically robust 150,000 cbm ULEC concept that helps establish a clear
technical pathway for future projects in this segment.”
Hongryeul Ryu, Chief Technology Officer, HHI, said :
“HHI has continuously pursued technological innovation, with optimized ship
designs tailored to operating conditions and customer requirements serving as
one of its core design values. This JDP is founded on the same design
philosophy and aims to introduce a new solution that enhances both vessel
performance and economic efficiency.@
Ryu added: “HHI's 150,000 cbm ULEC, incorporating the MARK
III SLIM design, is expected to become a next-generation vessel that achieves
both weight reduction and improved performance. Furthermore, this project is
anticipated to represent an important milestone in establishing a new paradigm
for ship design through the application of the latest cargo containment system
(CCS).”
François Michel, Chief Executive Officer, GTT, said: “Thanks to the versatility of our technologies, we can deliver greater efficiency across ethane transportation. With Mark III Slim, this translates into increased cargo capacity and shorter vessel construction times. GTT, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Lloyd’s Register share the ambition and responsibility to advance a new generation of increasingly efficient vessels that maintain the same rigorous standards of safety, reliability and industrial compliance.” -OGN/TradeArabia News Service
