HMM, Hanwha Group, and Korean Register Collaborate on Zero-Carbon Propulsion System for Ships

Seoul, South Korea – October 24, 2025: South Korean shipping company HMM has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with four subsidiaries of Hanwha Group — Hanwha Power Systems, Hanwha Ocean, Hanwha Aerospace, and Hanwha Systems — along with the Korean Register (KR) to jointly develop a next-generation, zero-carbon propulsion system for maritime vessels.

The collaboration seeks to design a carbon-free propulsion solution that combines an ammonia-based gas turbine (GT) for thrust generation with fuel cells for electrical power, marking a significant step toward achieving fully zero-emission ship operations.

Focus on Hybrid Design and Feasibility

According to the agreement, the partners will conduct research and development focused on container ships. The project will include:

• Concept design of hybrid propulsion systems integrating fuel cells and battery technology.
• Economic feasibility studies to evaluate commercial scalability.
• Hydrodynamic design of new hull forms optimized for ammonia and fuel-cell propulsion.

By combining HMM’s operational experience in global shipping, Hanwha Group’s engineering and manufacturing expertise, and KR’s technical verification and classification framework, the consortium aims to develop a system that could accelerate the maritime industry’s transition to zero-carbon operations.

Advancing HMM’s ‘Net-Zero 2045’ Roadmap

The initiative supports HMM’s ‘Net-Zero 2045’ strategy, which advances the company’s original decarbonization target by five years. HMM has been expanding its low-emission fleet through the deployment of LNG dual-fueled and methanol-powered containerships, aligning with global environmental regulations and growing customer demand for sustainable shipping.

The new partnership represents an effort to go beyond transitional fuels and explore next-generation propulsion technologies capable of eliminating greenhouse gas emissions entirely.