HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) has received ABS approval in principle (AiP) for a tank design that enables large-scale hydrogen transport and storage. The vacuum insulation system from HD KSOE is designed to reduce the time required to create a vacuum in large tanks, essential for transportation.

The new technology allows maintaining a vacuum state at –253°C, which KSOE says enables safer and loss-free transport of large quantities of liquid hydrogen.

ABS completed design reviews based on class and statutory requirements.

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Enabler for decarbonisation

‘Hydrogen is a key enabler for decarbonisation, playing critical roles as fuel, feedstock, energy storage and load balancing,’ says Patrick Ryan, ABS Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. ‘As demand grows, shipping will need advanced systems to support large-scale liquid hydrogen storage and transportation.’

Dr. Byeongyong Yoo, Vice President, HD KSOE: ‘HD KSOE has been dedicated to providing technological solutions for large-scale energy shipping such as LNG, LPG, Ammonia, CO2, and now hydrogen. This hydrogen vacuum system solution and large-scale validation test are part of these efforts. We will continue collaborating with leading global companies to drive the energy transition and achieve net-zero goals.’

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Liquid hydrogen carrier

Global energy and shipping companies Woodside Energy, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and Hyundai Glovis also participated in the validation test and are currently working with HD KSOE on the joint development of an 80,000-m3 liquid hydrogen carrier.

Jason Crusan, Vice President Energy Solutions at Woodside Energy: ‘This is a key achievement which builds confidence that liquid hydrogen ships can be efficiently designed and constructed in a shipyard environment.’

‘This verification test was a major milestone in the study of transporting liquefied hydrogen, where one of the major issues was the need to increase the size of the tank, and is an important step toward commercialisation,’ adds Jotaro Tamura, Senior Managing Executive Officer of MOL.

Picture: Liquefied hydrogen carrier (courtesy of HD KSOE).

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