{"id":26682,"date":"2026-08-04T13:12:06","date_gmt":"2026-08-04T12:12:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coxmarine.com\/?p=26682"},"modified":"2026-08-04T13:14:01","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T12:14:01","slug":"south-korean-seaweed-harvesting-fleets-report-fuel-savings-of-up-to-50-with-cox-marine-diesel-outboards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coxmarine.com\/apac\/news\/south-korean-seaweed-harvesting-fleets-report-fuel-savings-of-up-to-50-with-cox-marine-diesel-outboards\/","title":{"rendered":"South Korean Seaweed Harvesting Fleets Report Fuel Savings of up to 50% with Cox Marine Diesel Outboards"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Shoreham-by-Sea, UK \u2013 04 August 2026<\/strong> \u2013 Cox Marine has received market feedback from South Korea indicating that its diesel outboard technology is delivering even greater fuel efficiency benefits than expected in the country’s expanding seaweed harvesting industry, with operators reporting fuel savings of up to 50% compared with gasoline alternatives.<\/p>\n

Sungho Hong of Soungjin Marine<\/strong>, Cox Marine’s distributor in South Korea, who works closely with commercial vessel operators serving the expanding seaweed harvesting sector said:<\/p>\n

“Fuel economy is number one. Compared to gasoline engines, the biggest improvement we’ve seen is around 50%.”<\/p>\n

“Commercial operators often work with heavily loaded vessels,” he explained. “Fuel consumption increases significantly with gasoline engines under load, whereas diesel engines consume much less fuel. They are working less hard for the same payload.”<\/p>\n

Hugh Hudleston, Global Business Development Director at Cox Marine<\/strong> said:<\/p>\n

“We typically cite fuel savings of around 30% compared with equivalent gasoline outboards. It’s encouraging to see feedback from South Korea suggesting even greater gains in demanding commercial applications where vessels are heavily loaded and fuel costs are a key consideration.”<\/p>\n

The fuel savings are particularly valuable for South Korea’s seaweed harvesting industry, which is experiencing increased demand as products such as kimbap continue to gain popularity both domestically and internationally.<\/p>\n

According to Hong, vessels are also becoming larger and more powerful as operators travel further offshore in search of seaweed.<\/p>\n

“There is growing demand for power because the vessels are getting bigger,” he said. “The largest are around 28 tonnes and typically have one inboard engine.”<\/p>\n

With some commercial vessels operating with engine outputs of up to 1,800hp, operators require propulsion systems that can deliver the torque needed to move heavy loads efficiently.<\/p>\n

The market feedback highlights the growing advantages of diesel outboard technology in demanding commercial applications, where fuel costs have a direct impact on profitability. By combining high torque with exceptional fuel economy, Cox Marine’s diesel outboards are helping operators reduce running costs while maintaining the performance needed for productive offshore operations.<\/p>\n

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Cox Marine has received market feedback from South Korea indicating that its diesel outboard technology is delivering even greater fuel efficiency benefits than expected in the country’s expanding seaweed harvesting industry, with operators reporting fuel savings of up to 50% compared with gasoline alternatives.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":388,"featured_media":26684,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"\u00a0\r\n

By\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Hugh\u00a0<\/span>Hudelston<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\nOver the past few years, I\u2019ve had a front\u2011row seat to one of the fastest periods of transformation seen in maritime defence.\r\n\r\nChange that used to unfold slowly (over decades, even) is now happening in the space of a few programme cycles. Whether I\u2019m in conversation with operators, integrators, procurement teams, or engineering partners, the message is the same: mission profiles are evolving, operational expectations are rising, and autonomy is reshaping how fleets think about capability.\r\n\r\nWhat has become increasingly clear to me is that propulsion, once almost a background component of naval planning, now plays a central role in shaping what\u2019s possible.\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n

Evolving Defence Requirements for Marine Propulsion Systems<\/h2>\r\nMy work across defence programmes has highlighted a decisive shift away from the traditional, workforce-heavy platforms toward more flexible and lower-risk options. Defence leadership across multiple nations, including recent direction from the UK First Sea Lord<\/a>, has signalled that autonomous and remotely operated systems will play a central role in future maritime operations.\r\n\r\nNavies and agencies are facing new challenges, threats and restrictions, all of which demand faster deployment, lighter logistical burdens, and greater operational resilience.\r\n\r\nFrom my own perspective, three priorities consistently shape discussions:\r\n