HJ Shipbuilding & Construction (HJSC) has received an approval in principle (AiP) from the Korean Register (KR) for the design of a 10,000-teu biofuel-powered container ship, with the agreement signed at the Posidonia maritime exhibition in Athens on 4 June.

The AiP award ceremony was attended by HJSC chief executive Yoo Sang-cheol and KR senior managing director Cho Byung-sam at the Metropolitan Expo Center in Athens, where Posidonia is currently being held.

HJSC began cooperating with KR on the technology last year, applying a biofuel propulsion system to a 10,000-teu container ship currently under construction. Development was completed last month, with the AiP granted at the exhibition.

The approval confirms that the design meets relevant regulations and safety requirements, and verifies its technical feasibility. HJSC says it expects the technology to support future orders by strengthening its portfolio of eco-friendly shipbuilding solutions for mid- to large-sized container ships, while KR notes that the project could help accelerate the transition toward environmentally friendly vessels built in Korea.

HJSC added that interest in biofuel among shipowners attending Posidonia has been growing, increasing the need for shipyards to secure related technologies in advance.