HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Engine & Machinery successfully completed Type Approval Tests for its next-generation H35CDF HiMSEN LNG dual-fuel engine, evaluated by seven major classification societies at its Engine Techno Center. Built on the second-generation CLEAN engine platform and equipped with advanced Variable Valve Timing (VVT), the engine delivers enhanced fuel efficiency and reduced methane slip. The milestone further strengthens HHI-EMD’s marine propulsion portfolio as the industry looks to proven, high-efficiency LNG solutions.
Seoul, South Korea | September 23, 2026 – HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Engine & Machinery (HHI-EMD) has achieved a significant technical milestone in marine propulsion, successfully completing the Type Approval Test (TAT) for its next-generation HiMSEN LNG dual-fuel engine, the H35CDF.
Conducted from September 21 to 23 at the company’s Engine Techno Center, the rigorous testing process was witnessed and validated by representatives from seven major international classification societies: KR (Korea), ABS (United States), BV (France), DNV (Norway), NK (Japan), LR (United Kingdom), and RINA (Italy).
Building on the Legacy of the Clean Engine Platform
The H35CDF represents a major evolution in marine engine design, built upon HiMSEN’s second-generation CLEAN Engine Platform. By integrating decades of field-proven operational data and core technology from the widely adopted H35DF flagship model, HHI-EMD engineered the new platform to meet surging market demands for higher output and superior thermal efficiency.
A standout feature of the H35CDF is the integration of Variable Valve Timing (VVT) technology, which allows precise, dynamic control over the volume of air supplied directly to the combustion chamber. This precise thermodynamic optimization yields a dual benefit: significantly improved fuel efficiency and a notable reduction in methane slip compared to predecessor models.
Cementing LNG’s Role in the Energy Transition
As the global maritime sector navigates stringent carbon reduction targets, LNG continues to stand out as a mature alternative marine fuel backed by robust, globally established bunkering infrastructure. With the successful classification approvals for the H35CDF, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has reinforced the commercial and operational reliability of its gas-combustion portfolio, securing its competitive edge in the global marine engine market.
HD Hyundai: The Maritime Powerhouse
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), the flagship of the HD Hyundai shipbuilding group and one of the world’s most influential maritime manufacturers. Founded in 1972, HHI rose from South Korea’s industrial hinterland to global leadership within a decade, transforming the nation into a maritime powerhouse in the process.
The company’s 2024 revenue exceeded KRW 14 trillion, supported by over 19,000 employees and more than 3,400 design specialists focused on innovation in eco-friendly and digital maritime solutions. Beyond commercial shipbuilding, HHI leads in engines and propulsion systems, holding roughly 35 % of the global market for large ship engines and pioneering environmentally friendly dual-fuel technologies.
- HD Hyundai is a diversified South Korean industrial group operating across shipbuilding, heavy equipment, and energy.
- The group’s shipbuilding business is managed through Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE), a sub-holding company overseeing:
- HD Hyundai Heavy Industries
- HD Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries
- HD Hyundai Mipo Dockyard
- Through KSOE, HD Hyundai controls one of the world’s largest and most advanced shipyard networks, spanning commercial vessels, offshore units, naval ships, and alternative-fuel tonnage.
- The heavy equipment business is operated under Hyundai Genuine, which oversees:
- Hyundai Doosan Infracore
- Hyundai Construction Equipment
- These subsidiaries supply construction and industrial machinery critical to ports, shipyards, logistics hubs, and energy infrastructure worldwide.
- The group’s energy business is anchored by Hyundai Oilbank, one of South Korea’s major oil refiners, with operations spanning refining, petrochemicals, and marine fuel supply.
- HD Hyundai’s integrated structure uniquely positions the group across the full maritime value chain, from vessel construction and propulsion systems to fuel production and bunkering infrastructure.
Source: HD Hyundai