The 174,000㎥-class carrier will make at least five annual round trips between Korea and the U.S., expanding the group’s market share in the North American energy sector

Completing its LNG value chain, encompassing production, import, storage, and power generation within the POSCO Group

Accelerating the group’s energy business with a stable supply system based on long-term North American LNG contracts

POSCO Group is accelerating its business expansion in the energy sector through the introduction of a LNG-dedicated carrier. Amid growing uncertainties in the global energy supply chain, this strategic move enables the group to establish a stable energy transportation system.

On the 23rd, POSCO INTERNATIONAL held a naming ceremony for the group’s first LNG-dedicated carrier, ‘HL FORTUNA,’ at HD Hyundai Samho in Mokpo, Jeollanam-do. ‘FORTUNA’ is a Latin word, which means ‘fortune.’

The naming ceremony was attended by key group executives, including Lee Kye-In, POSCO INTERNATIONAL CEO and Lee Yu-Kyung, POSCO Vice President, along with industry leaders such as Kim Jae-Eul, CEO of HD Hyundai Samho, and Seo Myung-Deuk, President of H-Line Shipping, to share the significance of securing LNG transportation assets and discuss future opportunities for collaboration.

The success of this carrier project stems from a collaborative effort among three companies from different industries—energy, shipbuilding, and shipping—where POSCO INTERNATIONAL oversees long-term LNG procurement and operations, HD Hyundai Samho handles the ship’s construction, and H-Line Shipping manages carrier operations.

As a 174,000㎥-class LNG carrier, measuring 299 meters in length and 46.4 meters in width, the HL FORTUNA is specifically optimized for transporting North American LNG. Its capacity allows it to carry enough natural gas to power South Korea for 12 hours per trip.
*Capable of transporting at least 78,000 tons per trip

Equipped with a dual-fuel system using LNG as its primary fuel and a highly efficient re-liquefaction system that cools evaporated gas for reuse, the carrier is designed to flexibly respond to international environmental regulations.

Following its delivery on the 27th, the carrier will undergo sea trials and begin global LNG trading operations in the second half of the year. Starting in 2026, it will load LNG at Cheniere’s terminal in Louisiana, USA, for the purposes of domestic import and overseas trading. The carrier is scheduled to make at least five round trips annually to POSCO INTERNATIONAL’s Gwangyang LNG terminal, primarily transporting LNG under long-term North American contracts.

POSCO INTERNATIONAL has already secured a long-term contract with Cheniere Energy for 400,000 tons of LNG a year and a 700,000-ton contract with Mexico Pacific, steadily expanding the group’s LNG import foundation. As the Mexico Pacific project progresses, the company will prepare additional dedicated carriers to secure stable transportation.

“The introduction of this dedicated carrier significantly strengthens the group’s LNG value chain, from gas field production right through to import, storage, and power generation, providing a robust foundation to effectively respond to the challenges of global protectionism,” a POSCO INTERNATIONAL official remarked. “We are committed to continuously securing additional carriers to further enhance supply stability and LNG trading efficiency while simultaneously strengthening our global supply chain capabilities.”

▲ POSCO Group’s first LNG-dedicated carrier ‘HL FORTUNA’