Starting from February, POSCO began supplying all the stainless steel for membrane-type Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) carriers being produced by Korea Gas Corporation.
There are two types of containment systems used by LNG carriers: Moss type and membrane-type. Moss-type carriers hold the LNG in four or five large tanks, supported by the vessel’s hull. Membrane-type carriers make better use of space by having a single tank made from stainless steel (STS) cold-rolled steel, built right into the hull.
Compared with Moss-type carriers with their cylindrical tanks, membrane-type carriers have greater loading efficiency and are more economical because their non-cylindrical tanks can be larger. Because of the economic advantages of membrane-type carriers, demand for this type of ship is on the rise these days.
Up until now, an overseas engineering company owned the exclusive rights to membrane design technology, which is why domestic shipbuilding companies producing membrane-type carriers in Korea had to pay royalties.
In 2014, however, Korea Gas Corporation successfully developed its own membrane design technology, so there is no longer a need to pay royalties abroad. POSCO decided to apply World Premium stainless steel (STS) to the Korea’s first membrane-type LNG carriers. POSCO was the only manufacturer of stainless steel (STS) for membrane material; however, with this deal, POSCO became the only supplier of stainless steel (STS) for membrane material for both the Korean and international markets.
Korea Gas Corporation’s first domestically designed membrane-type LNG carrier will be constructed with World Premium stainless steel (KC-1). Improved loading efficiency and reduced vaporization loss in the KC-1 means enhanced transport efficiency and economic feasibility. [Picture provided by Korea Gas Corporation]
Using POSCO’s World Premium stainless steel (STS), the KC-1—Korea’s first membrane-type LNG carrier—offers drastic improvements on vaporization loss compared to previous models, while enhancing efficiency with gas transportation and economic feasibility.
Based on POSCO’s cooperation with Korea Gas Corporation in developing membrane carrier technology, POSCO established an optimized supply chain for saving cryogenic LNG from developing stainless steel (STS) to producing/supplying materials. POSCO’s efforts in customer-oriented solution marketing have led to new supply orders.
Using its advanced technology and high quality, POSCO plans to gain market share in the energy market by increasing the supply of stainless-type materials to future storage tanks for land, and small-sized tanker trucks. Starting from February, POSCO began supplying all the stainless steel for membrane-type Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) carriers being produced by Korea Gas Corporation.