World’s First Liquid Hydrogen-Fueled Oil Tanker Design Gets ClassNK AiP

ClassNK has granted Approval in Principle (AiP) for a design concept for the world’s first oil tanker fueled by liquid hydrogen (LH2).

Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding, Uyeno Transtech and Yanmar Power Technology have collaborated to develop the revolutionary vessel with a hydrogen-fueled engine and an electric propulsion system.

The design approval is part of the Nippon Foundation’s “Development of large-scale hydrogen-fueled domestic tanker and demonstration of zero-emission ships initiative, which aims to promote zero-emission maritime technologies.

ClassNK thoroughly evaluated the ship’s design using its regulations and various guidelines, including the IGF Code, Part D of the “Guidelines for ships using alternative fuels”, and the “Guidelines for fuel cell power systems onboard ships”.

This marks the first certification for an oil tanker that uses liquid hydrogen (LH2) as a fuel.

ClassNK’s evaluation revealed that the design meets all the safety and performance requirements, establishing a new standard in maritime engineering.

The newly approved design aims for a 5,000-kilolitre (kl) oil tanker powered by a hydrogen-fueled engine that can also be propelled by electricity.

The tanker’s hydrogen capacity is equivalent to around 2,500 standard hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and the vessel is estimated to reduce CO2 emissions by about 6,000 tons per year.

The Nippon Foundation’s project, initiated in 2023, aims to complete the demonstration vessel by 2025 and operational by 2026.

The ship’s design features a hydrogen fuel engine generator as the primary propulsion system and fuel cell power generation for onboard electricity via boil-off gas.

This AIP is part of a larger international effort to make hydrogen a crucial alternative fuel. According to Japan’s Basic Hydrogen Strategy, hydrogen is critical to decarbonization.

Furthermore, the European Union’s LH2 Craft project, which has a budget of €6.5 million (US$7.0 million), aims to develop enhanced LH2 containment systems for long-distance transport and liquid hydrogen storage.

The project involves fourteen partners from nine countries, including classification societies, universities, and industrial partners.

ClassNK’s approval demonstrates its dedication to maritime safety and innovation.

The group will continue to assist the project by conducting safety assessments and contributing to the larger goal of decreasing the shipping industry’s carbon footprint.

Reference: ClassNK, Riviera

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