Navigating the Future: Guidelines for Safe Liquefied Hydrogen Bunkering in the Maritime Industry
Key Ideas
  • MTF's new report addresses safety considerations for adopting hydrogen as a zero-emission fuel in line with IMO's emission reduction strategy.
  • Challenges in bunkering hydrogen are highlighted, including the need for vessel-specific procedures and crew training due to complexities compared to LNG.
  • Alf Tore Sørheim emphasizes the importance of these guidelines in the absence of international standards, aiming to enhance safety in bunkering operations.
  • The report has been submitted to the IMO, providing recommendations and a framework for developing liquefied hydrogen bunkering requirements.
The Maritime Technologies Forum (MTF) has issued a report focusing on guidelines and safety considerations for establishing liquefied hydrogen bunkering systems in the maritime sector. The report emphasizes the potential of hydrogen as a zero-emission fuel to align with the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ships by 2050. It acknowledges the complexities associated with bunkering hydrogen as fuel and cargo, citing challenges in design, functionality, and safety implications. Notably, the report points out that due to hydrogen's unique properties, prior experience with liquid natural gas (LNG) bunkering cannot be directly applied. The need for specific procedures, insulated components, and crew training is underscored, with a focus on updating Safety Management Systems to address hydrogen bunkering safety aspects. Acting Director General of Shipping and Navigation at the Norwegian Maritime Authority, Alf Tore Sørheim, stresses the significance of these guidelines in the absence of global standards, aiming to enhance safety in bunkering operations. The report has been forwarded to the IMO for review by the Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC 10), offering recommendations and a structured approach for the development of liquefied hydrogen bunkering requirements.
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