A design concept for a hydrogen-fuelled oil tanker with an electric propulsion system, developed by Uyeno Transtech, Yanmar Power Technology and Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding has received an Approval in Principle (AiP) from ClassNK.
This is believed to be the world’s first AiP certification for the design of an oil tanker using liquefied hydrogen as a fuel. The ship was designed as part of the ‘Development of Large-scale Hydrogen-fueled Domestic Tanker and Demonstration of Zero-Emission Ships’ project by the Nippon Foundation.
ClassNK carried out a review of a design concept of the ship based on its rules including part GF of its Rules and Guidance for the Survey and Construction of Steel Ships incorporating the IGF Code, Part D of Guidelines for Ships Using Alternative Fuels; Guidelines for Ships Using Hydrogen as Fuel (Edition 3.0.0), and Guidelines for Fuel Cell Power Systems On Board Ships (Second Edition). Upon confirming the concept complies with the prescribed requirements, ClassNK issued the AiP. This is the first AiP issued through the review based on Part D of Guidelines for Ships Using Alternative Fuels, released in May 2024.
ClassNK will contribute to the further consideration of the project from the perspective of safety evaluation and will strive to support the decarbonisation of shipping.
Image: AiP Handover Ceremony, from left: Tetsuya Kikyo, Program Director Ocean and Maritime Division Ocean Affairs Department, Nippon Foundation; Masaki Matsunaga, EVP/Director of Plan Approval and Technical Solution Division, ClassNK; Gen Uyeno, President and COO, Uyeno Transtech; Akihiro Tomita, GM Executive Officer Marine Products Sales and Marketing Division Large Power Products Business, Yanmar Power Technology; Yasunori Kohatake, President Representative Director, Mitsui E&S shipbuilding (source: ClassNK/JLA)
