Korean Register (KR) announced that it is leading discussions on international standards by simultaneously serving as the chair of the International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s International Expert Group in two key marine environmental fields — ammonia wastewater management and nitrogen oxide reduction technology.
Recently, as the international community’s demands for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ships have intensified, the introduction of ammonia-fueled ships which use carbon-free fuel is rapidly expanding.
However, ammonia is highly toxic, which can generate ammonia wastewater during operation. Since international management standards for ammonia wastewater have not yet been established, uncertainties are increasing in the shipbuilding and shipping industries.
To proactively resolve this regulatory issue, KR has been establishing a technical and institutional foundation by forming a public-private consultative body with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Korea Testing & Research Institute and five Korean shipbuilders — HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, HD Hyundai Samho, Samsung Heavy Industries and Hanwha Ocean) starting in June 2025.
Based on these preliminary preparations, KR collaborated with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to present research findings and lead expert session discussions at the 13th meeting of the IMO’s Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR) in February 2026.
Experts have session discussions at the 13th meeting of the IMO’s Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR) in February 2026.
As a result, the IMO decided to advance the discussions on ammonia wastewater from the original schedule and adopt it as an official agenda item starting in 2027.
In addition, following the results of the 13th PPR meeting, a new international expert group was formed to discuss ammonia wastewater management measures.
Chief Inspector Kim Joong-heon of KR’s Convention Work Team served as the chairperson and held an inaugural meeting on May 7, attended by approximately 100 experts from domestic and foreign government agencies, research institutes, and the shipbuilding and shipping industries.
This expert group will run until the 14th PPR meeting as a preliminary discussion body for the development of international guidelines.
KR will lead the discussions in cooperation with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries on key matters including the definition and scope of ammonia wastewater, standards for marine environmental impact assessment, monitoring and record management systems, and directions for data acquisition and sharing.
Verification of Keum Yang Shipping’s Electric Hybrid Ship Technology
Keum Yang Shipping which has been pursuing technological cooperation in the development of eco-friendly ships with KR announced that its hybrid propulsion vessel has obtained a Grade 3 eco-friendly ship certification from the Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority (KOMSA).
This certification is the first achievement based on a memorandum of understanding for eco-friendly ship development and technology cooperation signed by both companies in December 2025.
It is receiving significant attention from the maritime industry, particularly as it marks the first time a small Korean coastal shipping company has received official recognition for hybrid technology capable of actual operation.
The certified vessel has moved away from the conventional diesel engine method and adopted an electric hybrid propulsion system that combines a generator and a propulsion motor.
This is a next-generation eco-friendly technology capable of maximizing operational efficiency while drastically slashing sulfur oxide (SOx) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions.
Publication of Numerical Calculation Guidelines for EEDI
KR announced on May 12 that it published Numerical Calculation Guidelines for Attained EEDI through joint research with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Samsung Heavy Industries.
The EEDI stands for the Energy Efficiency Design Index.
The key feature of these guidelines is that they establish a standard for an evaluation method based on a numerical analysis applying computational fluid dynamics (CFD), replacing physical model tests previously used to verify ship energy efficiency.
The recently published guidelines systematize a procedure for calculating EEDI reference speed (Vref) using CFD numerical calculations into three stages — proving qualifications, validity reviews and corrections and main calculation.
By clearly defining the analysis methodology and report writing standards, the guideline book ensures the reliability and reproducibility of results.
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