HANJIN HEAVY INDUSTRIES

- Secures contract for a large-scale maritime chemical incident response vessel, reaffirming its unmatched expertise in specialized shipbuilding

- (Aerial View) HJSC’s 1,900-ton Multipurpose Chemical Response Ship

HJ Shipbuilding & Construction (HJSC) has again demonstrated its unrivaled technological expertise by successfully winning a KRW 68.8 billion contract to build the Korea Coast Guard’s first 1,900-ton multipurpose chemical response ship.

The multinational shipbuilder announced that, following a comprehensive evaluation of price and technical capabilities, it was selected as the top bidder for the construction of the vessel commissioned by the Public Procurement Service, with a contract value of KRW 68.8 billion. 

Equipped with chemical analysis instruments, oil recovery systems, and towing facilities for distressed vessels, the chemical response ship is designed to prevent and respond to maritime chemical accidents. Because of its specialized mission, the vessel requires advanced shipbuilding expertise and stringent safety standards. Such specialized ships are currently operated only by a limited number of advanced countries, including the United States, Germany, and Sweden.

Since 2013, when a fire broke out on the chemical tanker ‘Maritime Mage’ near Taejongdae in Busan, the Korea Coast Guard has been operating two 500-ton chemical response ships. However, as carbon-neutral policies expand and LNG- and hydrogen-powered vessels become more common, demand has grown for a larger, multipurpose chemical response ship capable of responding to major maritime chemical incidents.

To ensure rapid and efficient response capabilities, the Korea Coast Guard launched the design of the new multipurpose chemical response ship last year, with deployment targeted for 2028.

The new chemical response vessel will measure 70 meters in length, 14.6 meters in beam, and 6.5 meters in depth, and will be capable of reaching speeds of up to 15.5 knots (28.7 km/h) with an operational range of 1,600 km, enabling deployment anywhere along the nation’s coastline. 

In particular, the ship will feature towing facilities that can handle distressed vessels of up to 30,000 tons and will be able to operate effectively in harsh sea conditions with wave heights of 2.5 to 4 meters for search, rescue, and firefighting missions.

For the first time in Korea, the ship will feature an integrated hazardous chemical response system and onboard detection and analysis systems. Furthermore, its firefighting capacity will exceed that of existing 500-ton vessels by more than four times, reaching 9,600 cubic meters per hour.

In 2022, HJSC successfully delivered Korea’s first 5,500-ton multi-purpose large-scale response vessel, Endam, commissioned by the Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation (KOEM). With this new contract, the global shipbuilder has further reinforced its leading position in the specialized shipbuilding sector.

An official from HJSC stated, “We are honored to be selected to build Korea’s first state-of-the-art multi-purpose chemical response ship, reflecting our proven expertise in specialized vessels.” He added, “Our entire workforce is committed to delivering a vessel that will enhance the Korea Coast Guard’s ability to protect lives, safeguard property, and respond effectively to maritime incidents.”