Jeonnam Province and Mokpo City announced on November 3 the successful launch of the "K-GTB," a modular ship capable of operating on various eco-friendly fuel propulsion systems. The ship was launched at the Sapjin Industrial Complex in Mokpo on October 31.

Measuring 82.6 meters in length, 18 meters in width, and with a displacement of 2,600 tons, the vessel can accommodate 25 crew members and reach a speed of 12.5 knots.

As a world first, the K-GTB is equipped to test various eco-friendly propulsion systems, including hydrogen, batteries, hybrid systems, and ammonia engines. Previously, developing and commercializing eco-friendly propulsion systems for ships required building separate vessels for each system, resulting in significant costs and time.

Shipping is one of the largest contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and other international bodies have been tightening regulations on ship emissions. In July 2022, the IMO adopted a strategy to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping by 2050. This includes an interim target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ships by 20-30% below 2008 levels by 2030.

A Jeonnam Province official stated, "With this launch, we aim to accelerate the development of eco-friendly ship propulsion systems. We are also developing various eco-friendly technologies, such as passenger ships using renewable energy and electric propulsion vessels."