K Shipbuilding and Lloyd’s Register to develop ethanol-fuelled 50,000 dwt MR tanker

K Shipbuilding and Lloyd’s Register (LR) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly develop a 50,000 dwt medium-range (MR) tanker designed to operate on ethanol fuel.

The project, announced at Gastech 2026 in Bangkok, will assess the technical feasibility, safety and regulatory requirements associated with an ethanol-fuelled tanker. The partners aim to secure Approval in Principle (AiP) from LR and develop a vessel concept suitable for commercial application in the global product tanker market.

Ethanol-fuelled tanker design under development

Under the joint development project, K Shipbuilding will lead the vessel design and development programme, while LR will conduct technical reviews covering the vessel arrangement, stability, structural requirements and integration of the ethanol fuel tanks.

The project will also examine ways to optimise the vessel’s design and operational efficiency while maintaining compliance with relevant class requirements and international regulations.

Ethanol is already transported as cargo on product tanker trades, providing a basis for the partners to examine its potential as a marine fuel for vessels operating in the same market.

Theo Kourmpelis, Global Business Director for tankers, Lloyd’s Register, said: “Ethanol is already a familiar cargo across the product tanker trades, which makes the MR segment a practical place to assess it as a fuel. As ethanol production and seaborne trade continue to develop, owners active in these trades are well placed to connect its role as a cargo with its use onboard.

“This project will give owners a clearer basis for evaluating ethanol within their fleet strategies, and help lay the groundwork for its broader uptake across the tanker sector.”

Project to assess commercial and regulatory considerations

The development comes as shipowners evaluate multiple alternative-fuel options in response to changing environmental regulations and longer-term fleet investment requirements.

Andy McKeran, Chief Growth Officer, Lloyd’s Register, said: “Shipping’s energy transition is unlikely to be delivered through a single fuel solution. Shipowners are increasingly looking at a range of fuel options and want confidence that emerging technologies can be implemented safely, efficiently and in compliance with evolving regulations.

“This project will help deepen industry understanding of ethanol’s potential in the tanker sector and provide owners with greater insight into how alternative fuel solutions can be incorporated into commercially viable vessel designs.”

The joint development work will consider both technical requirements and market considerations in determining the viability of the ethanol-fuelled MR tanker concept.

K Shipbuilding targets practical vessel concept

Tae-Hyun Koh, Chief Technology Officer, K Shipbuilding, said: “We see growing interest in fuel flexibility as shipowners make long-term investment decisions in an increasingly complex regulatory environment. Through this collaboration with Lloyd’s Register, we aim to develop a practical and competitive ethanol-fuelled MR tanker design that addresses both operational and market requirements.”