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

Venture Global’s Plaquemines LNG wraps up $4 billion notes offering

Venture Global's unit Plaquemines LNG has closed a $4 billion offering of senior secured notes.

Argentina’s Enarsa to spend $567 million on LNG purchases

Argentina's state-owned LNG importer, Energia Argentina (Enarsa), will spend $570 million to purchase 22 liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes from BP and TotalEnergies this year.

Shell’s LNG Canada to ship second cargo

Shell-led LNG Canada is expected to soon ship the second cargo of liquefied natural gas from the Kitimat facility on the west coast of Canada, according to shipping data.

More News Like This

Delfin inks new deals for US FLNG project, eyes FID later this year

Delfin Midstream, the US developer of a floating LNG export project offshore Louisiana, is moving forward with the project by signing new deals with Siemens Energy, Samsung Heavy, and Black & Veatch.

GTT clinches tank gig for Capital’s LNG-powered containerships

French LNG containment giant GTT has secured a tank design order for six Capital's LNG-fueled container vessels.

Samsung Heavy cancels LNG carrier contract with Russia’s Zvezda

South Korean shipbuilding giant Samsung Heavy Industries has terminated contracts for 10 ice-class Arc7 LNG carriers and seven shuttle tankers with Russia's Zvezda.

GTT clinches new LNG tank gig

France’s GTT has secured a new tank design order from HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering for one liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier.