New Horizons-Welcome to Hyundai Heavy Industries's English Webzine

May - June 2003

Shipbuilding

First International Approval of HHI’s Plasma Welding Machine
82,000m3 LPG Carrier Named
Training Ship Named

First International Approval of HHI’s Plasma Welding Machine

HHI has developed a plasma welding process and an automatic welding machine for building Mark III-type stainless membrane tanks for LNG carriers. Recently, GTT, DNV and BV approved these developments.
This is the first official approval for adoption of plasma welding for Mark III LNG carriers. This plasma welding process and equipment can significantly reduce defects and increase welding productivity compared with the current method of automatic TIG welding process.
There are distinctive differences of the plasma welding compared to TIG; higher energy density that can increase welding speed by more than twofold, and longer arc length that can be controlled to trace seam lines easily because of adjustable gap between plate and torch. Moreover, due to lower density of heat input than TIG, this process can also dramatically reduce the deformation of panels. This equipment has two tactile sensors and one optical sensor to trace corrugated profiles and also has a laser vision sensor to follow the welding seam line automatically for flat parts.
HHI has applied for domestic and international patents for the technology related to its plasma welding process.

82,000m3 LPG Carrier Named

The Shipbuilding Division held a naming ceremony for an 82,000m3 LPG carrier ordered by Consolidated Marine Management Inc. (CMM) of Greece.
The carrier was named Hellas Nautilus by Mrs. Dorothy Latsis, wife of Latsis Group chairman, Mr. Spiro Latsis. One of the largest LPG carriers ever constructed, the Hellas Nautilus has been specially constructed with four low-temperature steel cargo tanks to safely transport LPG at -48°C. Equipped with an 18,420-horsepower engine, she has a service speed of 16.75 knots.
The design of the Hellas Nautilus is not only environmentally friendly, but her construction meets the industry’s highest quality standards. She features reduced risk of sea or air pollution with the adoption of DNV’s special “CLEAN” and “OPP” notations, while also earning DNV’s “PLUS” and “COAT” notations .
She is also equipped with the state-of-the-art controlling and monitoring system, ACONIS-2000, which HHI’s Electro Electric Systems Division has recently developed.

Training Ship Named

The Special & Naval Shipbuilding Div. held a naming ceremony for the training ship built for Mokpo National Maritime University (MNMU). Choi Kilseon, president of HHI, Oh Byoung-ju, president of MNMU and 60 other guests attended the ceremony. The vessel was named Saenuri by her sponsor, Mrs. Shim Jung-suk, wife of Mr.Oh Byoung-ju.
The vessel measures 103m in length, 15.6m in width. She has one seminar hall with two classrooms specially designed with soundproof material in its cabin. Notably, the ship has up-to-date facilities and dual control lines installed for practical training on deck.