Lloyd's Register (LR) and HD Hyundai Mipo (HMD) have announced a joint development project to design a 22,000 cbm class LNG bunkering vessel, addressing what the companies describe as rising demand for larger, more efficient bunkering vessels.

The project received formal recognition with an Approval in Principle (AiP) ceremony at Gastech 2025 in Milan on September 9. The collaboration aims to deliver a vessel that meets regulatory compliance requirements while providing commercial viability for LNG bunkering operations.

According to the companies, the 22,000 cbm design offers increased delivery capacity, which could potentially reduce bunkering time and frequency, lowering operational costs. However, the larger vessel size may encounter operational restrictions at certain ports, requiring careful design consideration.

LR will conduct a full drawing appraisal and issue the AiP in accordance with its classification rules and international standards. The vessel design is said to be optimised for cost-efficiency, operational safety and future regulatory compliance.

Sung-gu Park, LR's North East Asia President, said: "This collaboration demonstrates a joint effort to support the roll-out of the LNG bunkering supply chain. By integrating technical development with regulatory standards, we can deliver safely, adequate volumes of LNG to ensure supply at scale for the growing LNG fuelled fleet."

Lee Dong-jin, Executive Vice President and Head of Initial Design Division & Detailed Design Division at HD Hyundai Mipo, said: "LNG as an alternative fuel is attracting attention, and we realise that the demand for LNG bunkering vessels is increasing, with the rise of LNG-fuelled vessels. With this AIP from LR, we are able to expand our LNG bunkering vessel portfolio and position ourselves as a leader in the fast-growing LNG bunkering market."