Revolutionizing Hydrogen Transportation: ABS Approves Samsung's LH2 Carrier Design
Key Ideas
- ABS grants general design approval to Samsung Heavy Industries for a 20,000 cubic meter LH2 carrier with Type C tanks.
- The design aims to facilitate the transportation and development of hydrogen, crucial for the clean energy economy.
- SHI plans to commercialize LH2 carriers after mock-up verification, anticipating a surge in hydrogen demand and production by 2030.
- The LH2 carrier's capacity surpasses the world's first one, indicating the industry's progression towards larger vessels for hydrogen transport.
ABS has provided general design approval (GDA) to Samsung Heavy Industries Co. for its detailed design of a 20,000 cubic meter liquefied hydrogen (LH2) carrier equipped with Type C tanks. The approval followed design reviews based on class and statutory requirements. SHI vice president, Ho-Ki Lee, highlighted the significance of hydrogen in decarbonizing industries and emphasized the vessel's role in enabling the clean energy economy. ABS senior vice president Gareth Burton also underscored hydrogen's importance as a fuel, feedstock, and energy storage medium. The design's capacity exceeds that of the first LH2 carrier launched by Kawasaki Heavy Industries in 2021, indicating the industry's preparation for heightened hydrogen demand. With the International Energy Agency forecasting a substantial increase in low-emission hydrogen production projects, the need for efficient hydrogen transportation via vessels like SHI's design is crucial. The article projects the emergence of larger LH2 carrier designs as the industry anticipates a surge in hydrogen production by 2030, positioning hydrogen as a key player in the energy transition.