From 23 to 27 August, Georges-Louis Bouchez travelled to South Korea for an economic and industrial working mission alongside EXMAR and its chairman, Nicolas Saverys. This visit notably helped highlight the international expertise of this Belgian company, active in the transport of liquefied gas, ammonia and energy solutions.
In Ulsan, a major South Korean industrial and port hub, the MR President visited the facilities of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, the world's largest shipyard. He also took part in the naming ceremonies of two new EXMAR vessels: the ADINKERKE and the AALTER.
These ships represent a major step forward for the decarbonisation of maritime transport. Following the ANTWERPEN and the ARLON, they complete a series of four vessels, a world first: medium-sized gas carriers capable of both transporting ammonia and using it as fuel.
At nearly 190 metres long and capable of carrying around 46,000 m³ of LPG or ammonia, the AALTER and the ADINKERKE are equipped with a HYUNDAI-WinGD dual-fuel engine. They can run on ammonia or conventional fuel, and thanks to low-carbon ammonia, they can achieve a reduction in equivalent CO₂ emissions of up to around 90% compared to diesel.
During the ceremony, Georges-Louis Bouchez praised the work of EXMAR and Hyundai's engineers and technical staff: “In the face of geopolitical and climate challenges, the response cannot be purely regulatory. It must also come from innovation. It is the engineers, technicians and entrepreneurs who change the world.”
The MR President also highlighted EXMAR's strategic role for Belgium: “EXMAR is much more than a company: it is a strategic asset for our country. Belgium and Europe need visionary entrepreneurs, willing to take risks for the future of our industry.”
This visit was also an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of strengthening ties between Europe and South Korea, during exchanges with Taeseon Kim, member of the National Assembly representing Ulsan, and Kisun Chung, CEO of HD Hyundai. In an international context marked by great power competition, Georges-Louis Bouchez called for greater industrial, technological and commercial cooperation between partners who share the same confidence in innovation, training and openness to the world.
Through EXMAR, Belgian know-how is being exported, concretely contributing to building a more innovative, more competitive and more sustainable maritime industry.