Korea LPG Association

LPG R&D

LPG R&D LPG Vessels

LPG R&D

LPG Vessels

LPG Vessels

What is LPG-fueled vessel?

It is a vessel with an eco-friendly gas engine that utilizes LPG as its fuel to replace diesel-fueled vessels for the reduction of particulate matter in port areas, and in compliance to the strengthened environmental regulations by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Why do we need eco-friendly vessels?

Marine fuel oil currently widely used is reasonable, but contains a lot of sulfur oxides. Air pollution by ships accounts for 15% of the global total nitrogen oxides and 5 to 8% of sulfur oxides. In addition, the amount of sulfur dioxides emitted by a single large-sized cruise ship is equivalent to that emitted by 3.5 million diesel passenger cars.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) in 1997 and implemented the annex "Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships" (Annex VI) in 2005. Thereafter, the IMO lowered the limit for sulfur in fuel oil used on board ships from 3.50% to 0.50% m/m (mass by mass) starting in 2020 and also announced stricter regulations regarding the reduction of GHG emissions from ships by at least 50% by 2050. To cope with the strengthened environmental regulations, eco-friendly vessels like LPG vessels are highly favored all over the world.

*Source: Korea Maritime Institute (2017)

eco-friendly vessels expectation effectiveness

  • 01Marine environment improvement

    - SOx(Sulfur Oxides) reduces by 99.9%
    - CO2(carbon dioxide) reduces by 20%
    - NOx(nitrogen oxides) reduces by 20%

  • 02Reduction in ship operations

    - Fuel consumption reduces by 10.5%
    - Fuel costs reduces by 21%

  • 03Leading the Environmentally Friendly Ship Market

    - International Standards for LPG Ships
    - Accumulation of LPG Propelled Ship Source Technology
    - Securing leading technology for eco-friendly ship manufacturing

  • 04New demand for LPG and shipbuilding industries

    - Development of LPG Ship-related Equipment Industry
    - LPG Ship Fuel Supply (Bunkering) Creation of a New Industry
    - Creating an LPG Ship Industry Linked to Port Islands

*Source: Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Maritime & Ocean University

R&D for KOREA LPG Vessel