Class nod for South Korean trio’s ammonia FSRU prototype

Classification society LLoyd's Register (LR) has granted a class approval for what is said to be South Korea’s first ammonia floating storage re-gasification unit (FSRU) concept.

PHOTO: LR granted approval in principle for Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' ammonia FSRU concept. LLoyd's Register

South Korean shipbuilders Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE) and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) will collaborate with state-owned Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC) to build the FSRU.

FSRUs are vessels that can transport, store and regasify ammonia. As the ammonia leaves the production area, it is transported to the floating vessel in a liquid state and stored on board. The ammonia is then heated onboard, converted into a gas and delivered onshore via a pipeline.

The companies have not yet said whether the FSRU will also be powered by ammonia.

“The development of FSRUs that can respond flexibly to the operating environment in a situation where the marketability of ammonia is increasing is an important element in the industrial value chain,” says Sung-Gu Park, northeast Asia president of LR.

KNOC's head of ESG, Beom-hee Ahn says the FSRU will be "one of the major solutions" to the challenges surrounding clean ammonia storage infrastructure.

By Konica Bhatt

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