American Bureau of Shipping, or ABS, said in a statement that the design is intended to carry LNG as cargo as well as bunker fuel for a wide variety of receiving vessels.
ABS completed design reviews based on class and statutory requirements.
“The newly developed dual-purpose 30K LNGC/LNGBV highlights our commitment to advancing flexible and sustainable energy transport,” Dongjin Lee, executive VP, head of initial design division and detailed design division at HD Hyundai Mipo, said.
“By integrating bunkering functions into an LNG carrier, the vessel is designed to meet rising global demand while supporting the maritime sector’s transition to cleaner fuels,” Lee sadi.
HD Hyundai Mipo received the AiP on Tuesday during the Gastech exhibition and conference, currently being held in Milan, Italy.
In addition, Lloyd’s Register (LR) and HD Hyundai Mipo announced a joint development project (JDP) to design a 22,000-cbm class LNG bunkering vessel.
The project, which was formally recognised with an AiP ceremony at Gastech, aims to deliver a “safe, commercially viable, and regulation-compliant” vessel to meet the rising demand for LNG bunkering, LR said in a separate statement.
The design offers increased delivery capacity, which potentially reduces bunkering time and frequency, lowering costs for operators, while allowing HMD to meet the evolving needs of charterers, according to LR.
However, the larger size may encounter operational restrictions in certain ports, requiring careful design consideration.
LR said it will conduct a full drawing appraisal and issue the AiP in accordance with its classification rules and international standards.
LNG bunkering vessel orders
Since September last year, Hyundai Mipo has won orders for up to 13 LNG bunkering vessels.
Most recently, HD Hyundai Mipo won an order for two 18,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessels in May this year.
These ships are tied to Shell.
Before this contract, HD Hyundai Mipo secured an order for four LNG bunkering vessels tied to Greece’s Evalend Shipping.
In November last year, Hyundai Mipo also secured an order for four LNG bunkering vessels with a capacity of 18,000 cbm.
Moreover, HD Hyundai Mipo won an order in October 2024 to build one LNG bunkering vessel with a capacity of 12,500 cbm.
Before this contract for one LNG bunkering vessel, Hyundai Mipo won an order to build up to two LNG bunkering ships with a capacity of 18,000 cbm.
