Norway-based TMC Compressors has been hired by South Korea’s Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) to supply marine compressed air systems for a set of liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers the latter is building for an undisclosed national energy company.
TMC’s scope of work entails providing a complete marine compressed air system, including control and service air compressors, to 15 vessels. According to the Norwegian firm, these will be chartered by an “LNG shipping major.”
“Our marine compressors are designed with energy efficiency and ease of maintenance in mind. The vessel crew can easily maintain the compressors themselves, even while at sea. This lifecycle cost-friendly approach is increasingly being favoured by both yards and shipowners, as this large contract is a great example of,” said Hans Petter Tanum, TMC’s director of sales and business development.
The company has not specified the value of the contract but describes it as “large,” noting that the compressors will be manufactured at one of its European sites.
This comes on top of the order for 17 LNG newbuilds another South Korean shipbuilder–HD Hyundai Heavy Industries–placed with TMC in August 2024. According to the Norway-based player, these vessels are destined to work for the same national energy company.
A month before that, South Korea’s third shipbuilding major, Hanwha Ocean, hired TMC to supply marine compressed air systems for three LNG carriers being built for an Asian shipowner.
Meanwhile, SHI delivered the LNG carrier Quest Kirishima ordered by Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) in December. The vessel will be chartered to Q United Energy Supply & Trading (QUEST), a wholly owned subsidiary of Kyushu Electric Power.