Hybrid electric propulsion at the heart of next-gen LNG carrier design

September 14, 2026, by Melisa Cavcic

London-headquartered Lloyd’s Register (LR), a maritime classification and technical services provider, is teaming up with South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), headquartered in Ulsan, and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE), based in Seongnam, to push hybrid-electric propulsion into the next generation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers (LNGCs).

Left to right: Kwang-Pil Chang, Senior Executive Vice President - Advanced Research Center, HD KSOE; Andy McKeran, Chief Growth Officer, Lloyd’s Register; and Hongryeul Ryu, Executive Vice President & CTO, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries signed an approval in principle (AiP) in Bangkok. Courtesy of LR — Left to right: Kwang-Pil Chang, Senior Executive Vice President – Advanced Research Center, HD KSOE; Andy McKeran, Chief Growth Officer, Lloyd’s Register; and Hongryeul Ryu, Executive Vice President & CTO, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries signed an approval in principle (AiP) in Bangkok. Courtesy of LR

The partners have secured approval in principle (AiP) for a 185,000-cubic-meter (cbm) LNG carrier design aimed at cutting fuel consumption and emissions while laying the groundwork for wider adoption of hybrid-electric technology, which is expected to play an increasingly important role in improving fuel efficiency and curbing emissions.

Andy McKeran, Chief Growth Officer, Lloyd’s Register, commented: “Hybrid electric propulsion has clear potential to support efficiency gains and emissions reduction, but its application at this scale requires a robust approach to design and safety. By working in partnership from the earliest stages, we can help shape practical, reliable solutions that support wider deployment across the industry.”

The AiP enables LR, HHI, and KSOE to work on the development and safety verification of the vessel’s hybrid electric propulsion system, with a focus on strengthening system architecture, redundancy philosophy, and battery integration.

In addition, the project aims to develop guidance and technical requirements for this emerging technology, providing a framework to demonstrate support for wider adoption across the LNG carrier market.

Hongryeul Ryu, Executive Vice President & CTO, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, said: “HD HHI has proactively adopted eco-friendly technologies to comply with environmental regulations.

“Through this recent project, we were able to identify the various advantages and disadvantages of applying an advanced electric propulsion system. Building upon these insights, we expect this experience to serve as a valuable foundation for developing and implementing more efficient propulsion systems in the future.”

Lloyd’s Register explains that early involvement will support the development of technical guidance in an area where formalized standards are still evolving, strengthening its ability to support future projects involving electric propulsion systems and low-carbon vessel concepts.

The trio expects the project to generate insights that extend beyond LNG carriers, informing future developments in electric propulsion, fuel cell integration, and other advanced vessel concepts.

Kwang-Pil Chang, Senior Executive Vice President – Advanced Research Center, HD KSOE, remarked: “Electric propulsion is at the heart of the maritime industry’s transition toward more sustainable and efficient vessels.

“We are continuously advancing our electric propulsion technologies and solutions to lead this transition and enable their application across a broader range of vessel types. Through close collaboration with our partners, we will continue to strengthen our technological leadership and shape the future of electric shipping.”

This AiP comes shortly after Lloyd’s Register and the Marine Design and Research Institute of China (MARIC) revealed a tri-fuel-ready tanker concept designed to give owners flexibility to pursue LNG, methanol, or ammonia as fuel technologies, infrastructure, and regulations evolve.