POSCO's high manganese steel to be used for the world's largest LNG-powered bulk carrier
Hyundai Mipo Dockyard contracted to build the LNG-powered bulk carrier will for the first time use high manganese steel, which was independently developed by POSCO, for the fuel tank of the ship. POSCO will start supplying the high manganese steel to Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, Korean versatile shipbuilding company, from the third quarter of this year, POSCO said in a press release.
The largest volume of any of the LNG-powered bulk carriers has been able to carry 7,000 tons so far, but the new ship will be able to carry 50,000 tons of freight, about seven times more than the existing ones. It will have an energy-efficient, eco-friendly dual-fuel-capable engine that can use both bunker C oil and LNG. The ship will be completed at the end of next year and be used to carry limestone from Gangwon-do to Gwangyang works for POSCO from 2018.
As POSCO’s high manganese steel contains about 20% manganese, it can store LNG at the extremely low temperature of -162℃. The high manganese steel that will be used for the LNG tank of the ship is superior to the existing tanks made of alloy materials such as nickel and aluminum in terms of yield strength, extremely low-temperature toughness and price.
Since the ship will be designed for sailing across the ocean according to IFG Code (International Code of Safety for Ships using Gases or Other Low-flashpoint Fuels), the high manganese steel is expected to have a better chance at being selected as a material for extremely low temperatures by the International Maritime Organization once the ship enters service.
Based on a close cooperative relationship with domestic shipbuilders including Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, POSCO will make efforts to jointly build up the overseas market for high manganese steel.
