South Korea's POSCO installs world's first high manganese steel LNG fuel tank on VLCC

South Korean steel major POSCO and Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) have jointly set a milestone in the application of world's first high manganese steel LNG fuel tanks on a very large crude oil carrier (VLCC). The development took ten years of joint research and efforts. LNG fuel tanks are an essential equipment for environment-friendly fuel propulsion ships.

High manganese steel has lower price, high strength and wear resistance, and good performance at cryogenic temperatures of -163 C. Therefore, it overcomes all the issues faced by the existing materials (nickel alloy steel, aluminum, and stainless steel). This makes high manganese steel a next-generation material for LNG fuel tanks.

Both the companies have jointly developed a technology to manufacture fuel tank using high manganese steel, thereby, securing national competitiveness in fire management.

The high manganese steel fuel tank manufacturing technology has added value to the domestic technology. The price competitiveness will be secured by mass production of manganese steel, which will enable technological independence in the production of LNG cargo. This is a stepping stone which will strengthen the competitiveness of the shipbuilding industry.

Note: This article has been published in accordance with an article exchange agreement between Steel Daily and SteelMint.