Samsung Heavy develops high-speed welding robot for LNG carriers

South Korean shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries said it had developed a laser high-speed welding robot to speed up the construction of liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers.

SHI said in a statement that the new robot, first such technology in the industry, would substantially improve the speed of joining membrane panels in the cargo holds of LNG carriers.

According to the shipbuilder, the new laser high-speed welding robot is up to five times faster than the existing method of plasma arc welding (PAW).

When welding a 2-meter-long membrane panel, PAW takes about five minutes, while laser welding takes only one minute, SHI claims.

SHI said that the length of membrane panel welding for four cargo holds on a 174,000-cbm LNG carrier is about 60 kilometers, which is equivalent to a straight line from Seoul to Pyeongtaek.

SHI testing new tech

The shipbuilder said that the industry has been experiencing difficulties in securing skilled welders and PAW has limited productivity improvement.

In response, SHI’s production technology research center developed the laser high-speed welding robot which rotates the laser beam at precise intervals and speeds.

The technology also has defocusing capabilities to adjust the focal point and a laser displacement sensor to automatically locate curved welding positions, it said.

Last month, SHI completed a test to apply the laser high-speed welding robot to a Korean LNG carrier (KC-2C).

Furthermore, the shipbuilder plans to test the tech with GTT’s Mark III containment system and and to secure final client approvals later this year.

Besides LNG carriers, SHI also aims to apply this tech to the construction of liquefied hydrogen carriers in the future.

Record LNG carrier orders

Last year, SHI secured orders for 36 LNG carriers, marking a record for the largest number of orders for LNG carriers in a year for the shipbuilder.

In 2023, the shipbuilder and Japan’s JGC won a contract from Malaysia’s Petronas to build the first nearshore FLNG with a capacity of about 2 million tonnes.

In addition to the $1.5 billion FLNG contract, it also won orders for six LNG carriers worth about $1.5 billion.

SHI is expected to secure more orders for LNG carriers by the end of this year as part of the second phase of the giant Qatari shipbuilding program.

As of August 31, SHI had 85 LNG carriers in its order backlog worth about $18.4 billion.

Most Popular

Crown LNG, Fermeuse plan export project in Canada

US-listed Crown LNG and Fermeuse Energy revealed plans to build a liquefaction and export facility worth up to $15 billion in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Monkey Island LNG selects ConocoPhillips’ liquefaction tech

Monkey Island LNG has selected ConocoPhillips’ optimized cascade process liquefaction technology for its planned 26 mtpa liquefaction and export facility in Cameron Parish, Louisiana.

Sawgrass LNG & Power secures Barbados supply deal

Miami-based Sawgrass LNG & Power has once again been selected as the supplier of LNG to Barbados National Energy Company (BNECL).

More News Like This

GTT clinches tank gig from Hanwha Ocean

French LNG containment giant GTT has secured a new tank design order from South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean during the third quarter.

Hanwha Engine completes first X-DF engine with VCR tech

South Korea's Hanwha Engine, a subsidiary of Hanwha, has completed what it claims is the world's first WinGD X-DF engine equipped with VCR (variable compression ratio) technology for LNG carriers.

Samsung Heavy launches Minerva LNG tanker

South Korea’s Samsung Heavy Industries has launched a 174,000-cbm LNG carrier it built for Greek firm Minerva Gas, a unit of Minerva Marine.

Samsung Heavy bags orders for six LNG carriers

South Korean shipbuilding giant Samsung Heavy Industries has secured contracts worth $1.54 billion to build six liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers.