Samsung Heavy receives DNV GL's approval for fuel cell-powered LNG carrier design

Samsung Heavy Industries Co. received approval in principle for its design of the world's first fuel-cell propelled LNG carrier from Norwegian-German ship quality assurance society DNV GL.

The South Korean shipbuilder developed the design with US fuel cell maker Bloom Energy, which commercialized solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs)--energy conversion devices that generate electricity.

Samsung Heavy's fuel cell-powered LNG carrier will be equipped with engines using SOFCs and LNG, thereby no internal combustion engines and devices using oil are used in it.

The DNV-GL approved Samsung Heavy's design for fuel cell-propelled crude carriers in September 2019.