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“Using Less Fuel and Reducing Pollution,” Korea Builds First Electric-Hybrid Propulsion Fishing Vessel

  • Date

    2026.04.08.

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“Using Less Fuel and Reducing Pollution,”
Korea Builds First Electric-Hybrid Propulsion Fishing Vessel
  • Launching Ceremony to be Held on April 2 in Pohang, Expected to Help Reduce Fuel Costs for Fishermen


  The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF; Minister Hwang Jong-woo) announced that it will hold a launching ceremony in Pohang on Thursday, April 2 for Korea’s first pilot fishing vessel equipped with an electric-hybrid propulsion system that uses both diesel engine and electric motor.

  The electric-hybrid propulsion system combines a conventional diesel engine and a battery-based electric motor, allowing the engine and motor to be used together or separately depending on the navigation conditions. It helps reduce fuel consumption and lowers emissions of air pollutants such as fine dust.

  As the first of its kind built in Korea, the electric-hybrid propulsion fishing vessel is 20.95 meters long with gross tonnage of 9.77 tons. It can accommodate up to 8 crew members, and it is designed to increase fuel efficiency by using a diesel engine for travel from the port to the fishing grounds and an electric motor during fishing operations.

  * Main engine (diesel) 630 hp, electric motor 105 kW, battery capacity 160 kWh

  MOF recognized the need for an eco-friendly transition in the fishing vessel sector to respond to the increasingly stringent international environmental regulations and the trend toward carbon neutrality. Since 2021, it has implemented research projects to develop eco-friendly fishing vessels through the Research Institute of Medium and Small Shipbuilding.

  This year, the Ministry plans to conduct test runs of the newly built electric-hybrid propulsion fishing vessel on actual seas to verify performance and safety, and to analyze fuel savings, pollutant reduction levels, and operational efficiency comprehensively.

  "Applying eco-friendly propulsion technology to the fishing vessel sector is expected to ease the fuel burden in fishing significantly. We will continue our efforts to commercialize eco-friendly vessels," said Kim In-kyung, Director General of Fisheries Resource Policy at MOF.
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