KHI’s liquefied hydrogen carrier added to ClassNK register

The Suiso Frontier, the world’s first liquefied hydrogen carrier built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KH), has been added to classification Society ClassNK’s ship register.

This vessel was developed to provide a means of transporting liquefied hydrogen at 1/800 of its original gas-state volume, cooled to –253°C, safely and in large quantities over long distances by sea. Kawasaki plans to install a 1,250 m3 vacuum-insulated, double-shell-structure liquefied hydrogen storage tank.

Classification Society ClassNK has added the world’s first liquefied hydrogen carrier built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) to its register.

KHI is a member of the CO2-free Hydrogen Energy Supply-chain Technology Research Association (HySTRA).

Hydrogen has hazards such as flammability, permeability and more. To contribute to the safe seaborne transportation of hydrogen, which needs intensive measures for handling, in 2017 ClassNK published the “Guidelines for Liquefied Hydrogen Carriers” describing the safety requirements based on the IMO’s Interim Recommendations for Carriage of Liquefied Hydrogen in Bulk.

For Suiso Frontier’s hull structure, machinery, onboard equipment, materials, etc. ClassNK completed the prescribed surveys in line with its class rules and “Guidelines for Liquefied Hydrogen Carriers”, and added the vessel to its register.

The ship has an overall length of 116 m and a gross tonnage of 8000. 

ClassNK said it will continuously support the safe operation of the vessel through surveys in service, while utilizing the knowledge and experience gained from the upcoming surveys for keeping its guidelines up to date and contributing to establishing the appropriate international standard, thereby working to the social implementation of hydrogen transportation.