Hydrogen Application in Maritime Industry: Safety Codes & Standards Requirements

Hydrogen application in maritime industry: Safety codes & standards requirements

Dr. Narendra Pal and Dr. Joseph Pratt

Golden Gate Zero Emission Marine, Alameda, CA

With present contribution of GHG emissions from international shipping, there is an urgent need of annual GHG reduction considering vessel population growth which largely off sets efficiency improvements. On a pathway of CO₂ emissions reduction consistent with the Paris Agreement temperature goals, IMO has set aim to reduce the total annual GHG emissions by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008.

To achieve IMO’s goal of at least 50% annual GHG emissions reductions by 2050, we need a new transportation technology with emissions reductions approaching 80% or more, to make the emission reductions robust against growth in either population, or growth in the intensity with which technology uses energy.

Zero-GHG energy pathway is possible with hydrogen. High efficiency hydrogen energy conversion devices such as fuel cell that converts hydrogen into electrical power are powerful drivers for hydrogen technology. Today commercially-useful, zero emission vessel powered by hydrogen is possible to build.

The existing maritime regulations have been formulated to cover liquid natural gas (LNG) as a primary propulsion fuel. All the ships using gases or other low flash point fuels have to comply with the “International Code of Safety for Ships using Gases or other Low-flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code)”. In order to ensure the safe and timely deployment of hydrogen technologies in maritime, there is a need for developing / adopting code for hydrogen application in maritime in consultation with other existing codes such as “National Fire Protection Association Code on Hydrogen Technologies” (NFPA-2) considering harsh environmental conditions and associated safety for maritime vs on-land use of hydrogen.