ABS drafts industry’s first classification guidelines for hydrogen-powered vessels
The interim guidelines will apply to all ABS-classed newbuilds and retrofits that use pure hydrogen as fuel, regardless of vessel size, according to classification society American Bureau of Shipping (ABS).
PHOTO: Veer.Voyage's concept design for a wind-powered container vessel with assistance from hydrogen fuel cells was approved in principle by ABS. Veer.Voyage
The standards will also cover ABS-classed vessels under 500-gross-tonnage using hydrogen as fuel in internal combustion engines, fuel cells or any other hydrogen combustion equipment like boilers, it added.
They have been developed to "further support the application of hydrogen as fuel to ABS Classed vessels," it said.
“Of the alternative fuels being considered in the clean energy transition, hydrogen is one of the potential zero-emission fuel sources,” said the US-based classifier.
The draft guide is expected to complement the IMO’s Draft Interim Guidelines for the Safety of Ships using Hydrogen as Fuel. It will be updated when the IMO’s guidelines are finalised.
ABS requirements for hydrogen-powered vessels
Among other topics, the standards address onboard hydrogen storage, fuel supply systems, bunkering, and fuel containment systems.
When constructing the vessel, “it shall be arranged for safe and suitable fuel supply, storage and bunkering arrangements capable of receiving and containing the fuel in the required state without leakage,” ABS recommended for storage of hydrogen on board.
“Other than when necessary for safety reasons, the [storage] system shall be designed to prevent venting under all normal operating conditions including idle periods."
“Control arrangements” for bunkering hydrogen as a fuel are required to "allow remote operations from a safe location," it suggested. A remote monitoring system should display tank pressure and temperature with “high temperature and high-pressure alarm, automatic and manual shutdowns”, the report suggested.
By Konica Bhatt
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