Lloyd's Register (LR), HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE) have signed an Approval in Principle (AiP) to develop a new generation of LNG carrier designs incorporating hybrid electric propulsion technology.

The agreement was signed at Gastech 2026 in Bangkok and centres on the design of a 185,000-cbm LNG carrier featuring a hybrid electric propulsion system. Under the terms of the AiP, the three parties will work together on the development and safety verification of the vessel's propulsion system, with a focus on strengthening system architecture, redundancy philosophy and battery integration.

The project also aims to develop guidance and technical requirements for the technology, with the partners stating that the resulting framework is intended to support broader adoption across the LNG carrier market.

For LR, the partnership is said to support the development of technical guidance in an area where formalised standards are still evolving. According to the organisation, early involvement in the project will strengthen its ability to support future projects involving electric propulsion systems and low-carbon vessel concepts.

The partners have indicated that the project's findings are expected to extend beyond LNG carriers, with potential applications informing future developments in electric propulsion, fuel cell integration and other advanced vessel concepts.

Andy McKeran, Chief Growth Officer at 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."

Hongryeul Ryu, Executive Vice President and CTO at 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."

Kwang-Pil Chang, Senior Executive Vice President at HD KSOE's Advanced Research Centre, stated: "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."