Hyundai Steel Develops New Steel Plates for LPG and Ammonia Carrier Ships

Excellent Impact Toughness and Weldability Even at Low Temperatures
Mass Production and Supply Planned Next Month After Classification Society Certification

Hyundai Steel has newly developed thick plates that maximize resistance to external shocks even at cryogenic temperatures in collaboration with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries.

On the 12th, Hyundai Steel announced that on the 11th, it held a ceremony to commemorate the first production of new thick plate steel for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and ammonia carriers at its Dangjin Steelworks in Chungnam, attended by representatives from these companies.

Employees of Hyundai Steel, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries are taking a commemorative photo at the inaugural production ceremony of steel for LPG and ammonia carriers. Photo by Hyundai Steel

The newly developed thick plates are the result of a year-long joint research effort between Hyundai Steel, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries. The new thick plates apply technology that changes the internal structure of the steel through rolling temperature control to improve strength, toughness, and weldability.

Unlike existing thick plates that had high alloy content and poor weldability, the new plates secure low-temperature impact toughness and weldability while reducing alloy components. Additionally, the company has secured technology to efficiently weld these plates, which is expected to improve shipbuilding efficiency.

Hyundai Steel plans to complete the classification society certification for the new steel by the end of this month and establish a full-scale mass production and supply system to expand sales and marketing. A Hyundai Steel official said, "While the domestic shipbuilding and steel industries are facing difficulties due to China's low-price export offensive, the newly jointly developed thick plates are strategic products that possess both cost competitiveness and technological capability," adding, "They are expected to greatly contribute to the construction of high value-added ships."