Samsung Heavy Industries Delivers World's First LNG Dual-Fuel Shuttle Tanker

85% Reduction in Ship Sulfur Oxide Emissions... Responding to IMO Environmental Regulations

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Je-hoon] As the International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s sulfur oxide emission regulations came into full effect on the 1st, Samsung Heavy Industries has delivered the world's first natural liquefied gas (LNG) dual-fuel shuttle tanker.

On the 20th, Samsung Heavy Industries announced on the 21st that it completed the construction of the 130,000 DWT LNG dual-fuel propulsion shuttle tanker "Aurora Spirit" at its Geoje Shipyard in Gyeongnam and delivered it to the Norwegian owner, TK Offshore. A shuttle tanker refers to a vessel responsible for transporting crude oil produced from offshore plants to onshore storage bases by loading it at sea.

The vessel built by Samsung Heavy Industries reduces sulfur oxide emissions by 85%, nitrogen oxide emissions by 98%, and fine dust by 98% compared to conventional vessels. Additionally, it is equipped with a 'VOC Recovery System,' a technology that captures volatile organic compounds (VOC) generated during crude oil handling and uses them as ship fuel, significantly enhancing its eco-friendliness.

A Samsung Heavy Industries official stated, "With increasingly stringent environmental regulations, the demand for eco-friendly ships is inevitable," adding, "We will continue to lead the market based on differentiated eco-friendly technologies that combine both operational efficiency and economic feasibility."