ABS Backs Hanwha Power’s 22,000-m3 LNG-Ammonia Bunker Vessel

Hanwha Power has received approval in principle from the American Bureau of Shipping for a 22,000-cubic-meter LNG bunkering vessel designed to transport both liquefied natural gas and ammonia.

The company announced the approval Sept. 16 during Gastech 2026 in Bangkok. The certification expands Hanwha Power’s portfolio of medium- and large-scale LNG bunkering vessel concepts, which now ranges from 7,500 to 22,000 cubic meters.

The concept combines multi-cargo capability, hybrid-electric propulsion and an integrated equipment package. For turbomachinery and rotating equipment professionals, the design points toward growing demand for machinery that can support multiple fuels, variable operating profiles and increasingly integrated vessel power systems.

What does ABS approval in principle mean for the vessel concept?

ABS approval in principle, or AiP, indicates that the classification society has reviewed the concept’s technical feasibility and safety basis. ABS evaluates the compliance and safety of ships and offshore structures throughout design, construction and operation, according to background information included in Hanwha’s announcement.

The AiP does not represent delivery of a completed vessel. It establishes a technical foundation that can support subsequent engineering, procurement and project-development work.

Hanwha received the certificate Sept. 15 during a ceremony attended by representatives from the company and ABS. Hanwha Power exhibited at Gastech alongside Hanwha Ocean and Hanwha Engine, presenting technologies spanning lower-emission vessels, propulsion systems and marine equipment.

How will the LNG-ammonia multi-cargo design work?

The vessel incorporates Hanwha Power’s Mc-C high-manganese steel cargo-containment technology. According to the company, the system allows the vessel to transport LNG as well as ammonia with minimal design modifications.

That flexibility could help shipowners manage uncertainty around future marine-fuel demand. It also has implications for cargo-handling machinery, piping, controls and auxiliary equipment because LNG and ammonia have different operating and material-compatibility requirements. Equipment selection and system integration will therefore remain central as the concept advances into detailed engineering.

Why is hybrid-electric propulsion important for bunkering vessels?

Bunkering vessels typically operate in coastal waters and spend substantial time maneuvering or berthed. Hanwha’s concept addresses this duty cycle through a hybrid-electric propulsion architecture integrating an onshore power supply system with an energy storage system.

The arrangement is intended to reduce harmful emissions while the vessel is in port or operating near shore. Hanwha also expects the system to improve operational efficiency and economic performance.

For rotating equipment operators, hybridization can change how generator sets and associated machinery are dispatched. ESS capacity can support transient loads and allow generating equipment to operate closer to efficient load points rather than continuously following rapid demand changes.

Which equipment is included in Hanwha’s integrated package?

The concept brings together dual-fuel generator sets, energy storage, electrical power-system integration, integrated automation and cargo handling. Hanwha plans to supply these technologies through an integrated engineering and procurement package.

The approach could reduce interface complexity among propulsion, power generation, automation and cargo systems. It may also give operators a more unified basis for controls integration, machinery monitoring and lifecycle support.

“This ABS AiP marks another important milestone demonstrating Hanwha Power’s technological reliability and commercial viability in the global eco-friendly vessel market,” said Hoon-min Kim, head of Hanwha Power’s Marine Solution Business Division, in a press release. “Building on the Hanwha Group’s differentiated clean-technology capabilities, we will continue to provide global shipowners with optimized integrated solutions for the transition to more sustainable marine transportation.”¹

Hanwha Power established the division in 2023 and has pursued vessel retrofits, alternative-fuel propulsion and energy-efficiency projects.

References

1. Hanwha Power: ABS AiP for 22,000-cubic-meter LNG bunkering vessel concept
2. ABS organizational background, as published in Hanwha’s announcement