HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' shipyard in Ulsan spans 1.65 million square meters, nearly 1.8 times the size of Yeouido. The ships being constructed here are larger than typical villas. Workers welding massive steel structures appear as mere dots in comparison. These structures are not completed ships but blocks that will be assembled into large vessels.
[Shipyard] Assembling Ships with 300 Blocks: A Giant LEGO Construction Site
During a visit to the Ulsan shipyard on November 12, the first sight was a container ship under construction, its hull so large it was hard to grasp at a glance. A company representative explained, "We first create individual blocks and then assemble them to form the ship's shape," noting that a typical large vessel consists of 250 to 300 large blocks.
The factory, blocks, cranes, and ships under construction are all connected by roads frequented by cars and motorcycles. The yard is divided into areas for producing blocks, from cutting and bending steel plates to creating the ship's bow and stern curves.
[LNG Cargo Hold] Nine Levels of Work Platforms in Cargo Holds: 60km of Welding
Entering the cargo hold of a 174,000 cubic meter LNG carrier, the scale becomes even more apparent. Nine levels of work platforms are installed, each with a height comparable to that of a typical building. Jeon Gang-wook, head of production at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, stated, "Each ship has a total of four cargo holds of this size."
Equally impressive is the meticulous work filling this vast space. Upon closer inspection, the fine welds connecting the wrinkled metal sheets become visible. Observing these completed seams, which must be done across the walls, floor, and ceiling, highlights the cargo hold's immense scale.
The membrane sheets, made of 1.2mm thick stainless steel, are designed with folds to withstand temperature changes. Approximately 11,000 sheets are used per ship, with the total length of welding reaching about 60 kilometers.
Jeon emphasized the importance of construction quality, stating, "If there are defects in the welds, LNG could leak." Insulation and a secondary barrier are installed behind the sheets to prevent leaks.
This level of construction quality is seen as a competitive advantage over Chinese shipyards. Even when using the same cargo hold technology from France's GTT, actual construction quality can vary. Jeon noted, "HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has been gaining experience in manufacturing these cargo holds since 2004, while China's experience with the Mark III method is relatively short."
Building an LNG carrier takes a total of 26 months, including 12 months for design and 14 months for production. Outside, workers connect massive blocks that appear as tiny dots, while inside, they complete seams of thin metal plates spanning several kilometers.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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