KR awards world’s first AiP for a commercial LH2 carrier

The 20,000cbm carrier design was jointly developed by HMD, Hyundai Glovis, a Seoul-based logistics company and an affiliated ship management company, G-Marine Service and Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE).

KSOE developed the liquefied hydrogen cargo treatment system and a boil-off gas treatment system for hydrogen using fuel cells, while HMD developed the basic design of the ship.

The insulation surrounding the vacuum insulated hydrogen containment system has been expanded to minimise evaporation from the cargo, while maintaining the liquefied hydrogen at the necessary -253C temperature.

The propulsion system was designed to allow the integration of fuel cells into the design at a subsequent stage, according to HMD’s press statement.

The development forms part of Hyundai Glovis’ hydrogen maritime transportation strategy. The company noted that by participating in the joint development of hydrogen carriers, it would gain direct insight into the economics and safety aspects of such developments.

The collaboration also formed part of a strategy to enhance the competitiveness of hydrogen marine transport “by ensuring the shipping and shipbuilding industries are equipped with core transport capabilities to build offshore hydrogen supply infrastructure”.

Hyundai Glovis cited its September 2020 memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Wilhelmsen Ship Management as a step towards “developing wider synergies” in the hydrogen maritime transportation business.