Korean Register has granted Approval in Principle to a newly developed 50,000-cbm LPG carrier that was jointly designed with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, sources indicated on 16 September 2026.
The AIP was presented on 16 September at Gastech 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand, the report states, signalling the classification society's formal recognition of the design concept for the new vessel.
The design, described in the report as a 50,000-cbm liquefied petroleum gas carrier, was developed in collaboration between the Korean Register and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, reflecting a joint effort to produce a ship of that quoted capacity.
LPG carriers require precise control of cargo temperature and pressure to keep LPG cargo stable throughout storage and handling, the source notes, and the approved design addresses those fundamental operational requirements.
The announcement at Gastech 2026 places the development before a specialised industry audience, with the presentation in Bangkok serving as the event platform for the AIP handover.
The certification step reported follows the completion of the joint design work and the submission of that design for review by the Korean Register, culminating in the issuing of Approval in Principle.
Design and capacity
The vessel is specified in the report with a cargo volume of 50,000 cubic metres, a capacity that places it in a class intended for large LPG trades, and the design work was carried out jointly by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Korean Register.
Presentation at Gastech 2026
According to the report, the AIP presentation took place on 16 September during Gastech 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand, where project details were disclosed to attendees and industry representatives.
The reports item is the source of the information reported here; it records the AIP grant and the setting in which it was revealed without providing additional operational schedules or contractual details.
Taken together, the published notes identify the principal parties, the vessel capacity and the forum for the announcement, while emphasising that the approved concept is intended for the carriage of LPG under the cargo handling constraints noted by the source.