A consortium of Japanese firms led by Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) and backed by the Japanese government is aiming to install a hydrogen-fuelled engine on an MOL bulker by 2026, with demonstrations from 2027
Classification society Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) has granted MOL Drybulk, Onomichi Dockyard, Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Japan Engine Corp (J-ENG) approval in principle (AiP) after the Japanese firms conducted a risk assessment of a multi-purpose vessel powered by hydrogen using a novel parcel layout concept for the vessel’s hydrogen fuel tank and fuel supply system.
ClassNK called the award the first AiP certification for a ship equipped with a low-speed, two-stroke, hydrogen-fuelled engine as the main propulsion engine.
J-ENG’s large, low-speed, two-stroke, hydrogen-fuelled engine and Kawasaki’s marine hydrogen fuel system (MHFS) will be installed in the vessel by 2026. MOL and MOL Drybulk will take charge of ownership and operation management of the demonstration vessel while Onomichi Dockyard will oversee development and construction of the vessel, and co-operate on the demonstration operation.
The companies said a demonstration operation of the vessel will be conducted for two years beginning in 2027 as part of the Development of Marine Hydrogen engines and MHFS programme, adopted by the Green Innovation Funding Program of Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization.
The five companies, together with ClassNK and the National Maritime Research Institute, National Institute of Maritime, Port and Aviation Technology held a pre-HAZID meeting on 28 and 29 June 2023.
The risk assessment meeting was held to review the parcel layout concept of the marine hydrogen fuel tank and the fuel supply system prior to the HAZID meeting covering the entire vessel.
The group identified risks to be addressed in further design work on the parcel layout concept of the liquefied hydrogen fuel tank and fuel supply system and confirmed the design of the vessel can proceed further based on the current parcel layout.
ClassNK carried out its review of a parcel layout concept for the MHFS based on its rules including part GF of its Rules and Guidance for the Survey and Construction of Steel Ships, incorporating the IGF Code and risk assessment results through pre-HAZID, and issued an AiP upon confirmation of compliance with the requirements.
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