Korean maritime decarbonisation company Vinssen has received an Approval in Principle (AIP) certification from the Korean Register for Korea’s first tug vessel featuring a hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system.
This certification is said to mark a significant milestone in the development of eco-friendly technologies, initiated through an MoU with ship design, retrofit engineering, and maritime infrastructure engineering company KRE. Vinssen has led the engineering of the hydrogen fuel cell propulsion systems, while KRE handled the tugboat’s base performance and layout engineering. The 2,700 kW hydrogen fuel cell-powered electric tugboat uses hydrogen fuel and stores excess electricity generated by the fuel cells in batteries for low-load operations, allowing for future energy demand preparedness. During high-output scenarios, the stored energy from the batteries supplements the fuel cell’s power to ensure stable and efficient propulsion, enabling peak-load operations.
Vinssen’s system optimes hydrogen energy use based on the tugboat’s operational profile. The system is designed to meet current and future environmental regulations while delivering performance in harsh and specialised marine environments. The Vinssen eco-friendly propulsion system includes integration of battery energy storage systems.
Subsequently, Vinssen, has received type approval from Italian classification society RINA for its 60kW maritime fuel cell stack. This approval accelerates the demonstration and commercialisation of Vinssen’s 120kW maritime fuel cell power generation system.
Vinssen believes that despite the absence of clear maritime hydrogen-related legal standards, the company has leveraged regulatory sandboxes to systematically conduct technology verification and rigorous certification procedures, demonstrating technical expertise. The Type Approval from RINA not only strengthens international confidence in hydrogen fuel cell technology for eco-friendly ships but also marks a significant step toward full commercialisation.
The certification process involved performance and environmental tests based on IEC standards, including vibration tests and dielectric strength tests.
Looking ahead, Vinssen plans to accelerate the development of next-generation hydrogen fuel cell solutions, including a 150kW high-output fuel cell stack and an onboard fuel cell power generation system using reformed gas (75% hydrogen and 25% nitrogen). These innovations are expected to enhance the feasibility of applying MW-class hydrogen fuel cell systems to larger vessels.
Image: Vinssen’s hydrogen fuel cell powered tug (source: Vinssen)
