K Shipbuilding and Lloyd’s Register (LR) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly develop an ethanol-fuelled 50,000 dwt Medium Range (MR) tanker.<\/p>\n
Announced at Gastech 2026 in Bangkok, the joint development project will assess the technical feasibility, safety and regulatory compliance of a new ethanol-fuelled tanker design, with the objective of achieving Approval in Principle (AiP) from LR and creating a commercially competitive vessel concept for the global product tanker market.<\/p>\n
LR will undertake technical reviews covering vessel arrangements, stability, structural requirements and fuel tank integration, while K Shipbuilding will lead the vessel design and development programme.<\/p>\n
The project will also examine opportunities to optimise vessel design and operational efficiency while ensuring compliance with applicable class rules and international regulations.<\/p>\n
Theo Kourmpelis, Global Business Director for tankers, Lloyd\u2019s Register<\/strong>, said: \u201cEthanol is already a familiar cargo across the product tanker trades, which makes the MR segment a practical place to assess it as a fuel. As ethanol production and seaborne trade continue to develop, owners active in these trades are well placed to connect its role as a cargo with its use onboard.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThis project will give owners a clearer basis for evaluating ethanol within their fleet strategies, and help lay the groundwork for its broader uptake across the tanker sector.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Andy McKeran, Chief Growth Officer, Lloyd’s Register<\/strong>, said: \u201cShipping\u2019s energy transition is unlikely to be delivered through a single fuel solution. Shipowners are increasingly looking at a range of fuel options and want confidence that emerging technologies can be implemented safely, efficiently and in compliance with evolving regulations.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThis project will help deepen industry understanding of ethanol’s potential in the tanker sector and provide owners with greater insight into how alternative fuel solutions can be incorporated into commercially viable vessel designs.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Tae-Hyun Koh, Chief Technology Officer, K Shipbuilding<\/strong>, said: \u201cWe see growing interest in fuel flexibility as shipowners make long-term investment decisions in an increasingly complex regulatory environment. Through this collaboration with Lloyd’s Register, we aim to develop a practical and competitive ethanol-fuelled MR tanker design that addresses both operational and market requirements.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n About Lloyd\u2019s Register<\/p>\n Lloyd\u2019s Register (LR) is a global professional services group specialising in marine engineering, technology and digital solutions. We were created more than 260 years ago as the world\u2019s first marine classification society to improve and set standards for the safety of ships.<\/p>\n Today we are a leading provider of classification and compliance services to the defence, marine and offshore industries, helping our clients design, construct and operate their assets to accepted levels of safety and environmental compliance.<\/p>\n We also provide advisory services and digital solutions, supporting fleet and voyage performance and optimisation.\u202f\u202fThrough OneOcean, LR delivers integrated digital solutions supporting voyage planning, optimisation, compliance, training and fleet performance across more than 30,000 vessels globally.<\/p>\n In the race to zero emissions, our research, advisory and technical expertise and industry-firsts are supporting a safe, sustainable maritime energy transition.<\/p>\n Lloyd\u2019s Register Group is wholly owned by the Lloyd\u2019s Register Foundation, a politically and financially independent global charity that promotes safety and education.<\/p>\n www.lr.org<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" K Shipbuilding and Lloyd’s Register (LR) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":285337,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[273,298],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-285336","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-maritimes-news","category-seagoing-maritimes-news"],"yoast_head":"\n