Samsung Heavy Industries has advanced its floating LNG (FLNG) product offerings with the development of the 'MLF-O (Multi-purpose LNG Floater-Offshore),' a new standard model designed for ultra-deepwater production facilities. This innovation marks a significant stride in expanding its FLNG lineup for deepsea applications.
On May 5 (local time), at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC 2025) held in Houston, Texas, Samsung Heavy announced that the MLF-O model has received preliminary certification from three leading international classification societies—Norway’s DNV, the UK’s Lloyd’s Register (LR), and the US-based ABS.
The newly introduced MLF-O is the second standard model following the 2023 coastal-focused FLNG model, the 'MLF-N (Multi-purpose LNG Floater-Nearshore).' Designed to operate safely in challenging environments with average wave heights exceeding 9 meters, the MLF-O complements the existing model, which is optimized for nearshore areas with wave heights under 2 meters.
To ensure stability in harsh ocean conditions, the MLF-O features a dual-row cargo tank structure, which significantly reduces sloshing effects caused by wave motion, effectively mitigating internal impacts. This innovative design guarantees high stability and operational efficiency even in deepsea environments.
With this development, Samsung Heavy Industries has completed its comprehensive FLNG standard model lineup covering both nearshore and deep-sea conditions. Standardized designs enable shorter delivery times and enhanced cost-effectiveness compared to land-based plants. The MLF series also offers modular cargo tanks and hull configurations, allowing capacity expansion from 180,000m³ up to 220,000m³, providing great flexibility for different projects.
Moving forward, Samsung Heavy Industries plans to leverage these standard models to accelerate securing global gas field development projects. Vice President and Head of the Difficult Environment Technology Development Division, stated, “The MLF-O represents an innovative FLNG solution that reduces operating costs and dramatically shortens delivery schedules,” adding, “We aim to strengthen our leadership position in the FLNG market and continue to achieve a technological edge.”
