HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering’s “Low-Pressure Cargo Storage and Operation System for LCO₂ Carriers” was officially listed as a winning organization for the 2026 IR52 Jang Yeong-sil Technology Innovation Award. The key point newly confirmed in this issue is not only how the award-winning technology works, but also that a 22,000 m³-class vessel equipped with the system has already been delivered.
Key Changes
The award-winning technology transports liquefied carbon dioxide at −50°C and 7 bar, while reliquefying carbon dioxide that vaporizes during transport. Its main feature is the integration of cargo storage and operation under low pressure with the reliquefaction stage.
Key figures: Transport at −50°C and 7 bar, a 22,000 m³-class vessel, and reliquefaction during transport
Official IR52 materials from the Korea Industrial Technology Association describe the average capacity of existing carriers as 7,500 m³-class. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries said it developed a 22,000 m³-class carrier, approximately three times larger. The [IR52 award-winning organization materials](https://www.ir52.com/award/techinno.asp?smenu=award&stitle=tprizewinner&yy=) and [IR52 press release](https://www.ir52.com/news/pressView.asp?idx=3164&smenu=news&stitle=press) confirm the technology name and vessel scale.
Current Status
The low-pressure LCO₂ and multi-gas carrier Active was delivered from Hyundai Mipo Dockyard to Capital Clean Energy Carriers on January 6, 2026. Therefore, this news includes not only the technology award announcement but also the fact that a vessel of this size has reached the actual delivery stage.
HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering previously disclosed that it signed a construction contract with Greece’s Capital Maritime Group in 2023 for two 22,000 m³-class LCO₂ carriers. [HD Hyundai ESG materials](https://esg.hd.com/ko/news/676) explain the background of the contract and the vessel size.
Impact
LCO₂ carriers are connected to the transport stage of the CCUS value chain, moving captured carbon dioxide to subsequent storage or utilization sites such as offshore storage facilities or subseabed formations. This technology can be viewed as a specific application of a vessel system for transporting large volumes of liquefied carbon dioxide by sea.
However, based on the materials confirmed so far, it is difficult to conclude that this award confirms an overall improvement in HD Hyundai’s business performance or an expansion of its market share in LCO₂ carriers. Indicators such as additional order volume, revenue contribution, and market share were not included in the scope of this review.
What to Check Next
The next official announcement or filing should be checked for three points.
- Whether additional 22,000 m³-class LCO₂ carriers are delivered or additional construction contracts are signed
- Follow-up applications of the low-pressure cargo storage and operation system
- Whether official figures are disclosed to support the business’s revenue contribution or market share
The currently verifiable conclusion is clear. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering received the IR52 Jang Yeong-sil Technology Innovation Award for the low-pressure LCO₂ cargo system, and the 22,000 m³-class Active, developed at approximately three times the scale of existing carriers, was delivered in January 2026. Further business performance must be confirmed through subsequent official materials.
Sources and verification date: Official Korea Industrial Technology Association IR52 materials, HD Hyundai ESG materials, and related Yonhap News materials reviewed on September 2, 2026.