The
Korean Register (KR) says it has today (May 28) "formally opened" the world's first green-ship equipment test certification centre in Gunsan, Jeonbuk, South Korea. It comes 10 months after the centre
"opened for business" in July 2014.
In a statement, KR explained: "This large-scale facility will be operated by KR and has been built with the full support of Korea's Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the governments of Gunsan City and Jeolla-buk province.
"In recent years, KR has been developing eco-friendly technologies through collaboration on a range of R&D activities with marine equipment manufacturers. The creation of this new international-level facility enables KR to carry out testing and evaluation beyond its routine R&D work and establishes a firm base from which to lead the international standardization of eco-friendly vessels. It also allows KR to respond to IMO's greenhouse emission reduction and maritime pollution regulations."
The new facility has been built to assist the R&D departments of marine equipment manufacturers and help them commercialize their activities. KR expects the centre to operate as an international green-ship hub by introducing a certification system for green-ship technologies.
According to KR, the centre will develop, test and evaluate core green-ship equipment. Technical services offered are to include:
- test, evaluation and analysis of diesel engines.
- precision measurement and analysis of combustion and emissions.
- quality evaluation and analysis of fuel usage.
- evaluation and analysis of material corrosion and anticorrosion.
- evaluation and analysis of thermal control and fluid application systems.
- evaluation and analysis of hybrid power systems.
Commenting on the launch of the new facility, Dr.
B.S. Park, chairman and CEO of KR, said: "This centre was created to provide our clients with holistic services covering technical consulting, engineering and certification. We are delighted to be the world's first centre to offer a one-stop service for testing and certifying green-ship components and machinery in a single location. Our centre is equipped with the required high-quality facilities and technology for test, evaluation and certification. As a rule provider, KR not only delivers accurate technical services but also assists clients to achieve economic efficiency. This is a further example of KR operating beyond compliance and I am confident that this new facility will help our clients enhance their technical quality which will, in turn, have a positive effect on the shipping industry as a whole."
