Type approval shows hydrogen propulsion continues to mature  

Lloyd’s Register (LR) has issued a type approval certificate to BeHydro for a 100% hydrogen-fuelled, spark-ignited marine engine, confirming the design meets class requirements for safety, performance, and reliability. The approval is a significant step towards certification and commercialisation.

BeHydro is a joint venture between medium-speed engine maker Anglo Belgian Corp (ABC) Engines and publicly traded shipowner and fuel producer CMB.TECH.

Designed to run entirely on hydrogen without the use of pilot fuel, the four-stroke, medium-speed engine was developed and tested at ABC Engines’ facility in Ghent. The hydrogen-fuelled engine produces 900 kW at 900 rpm. The engine maker believes its 100% hydrogen-fuelled engine simplifies the system design and removes onboard carbon emissions at the source, positioning the technology as a practical option for operators exploring zero-carbon propulsion.

LR global technical director, Claudene Sharp-Patel, said the issuance of the type approval shows “hydrogen-fuelled internal combustion engine technology continues to mature as a viable option for maritime applications.”

BeHydro also produces medium-speed hydrogen dual-fuel engines. Two of the Belgian engine producers’ V12 hydrogen dual-fuel engines, each producing 1,618 kW at 968 rpm, were installed in Ten-Oh, a Japanese tug built as part of the Nippon Foundation’s Zero Emissions Ship Project. JPNH2ydro, a joint venture between Tsuneishi Group and CMB.TECH supplied the engines, high-pressure hydrogen storage unit, and fuel supply system. 250 kg of hydrogen can be stored in the vessel’s high-pressure tanks. ClassNK certified the tug’s design and construction, reviewing the safety requirements and applying Part GF of its Rules and Guidance for the Survey and Construction of Steel Ships to manage the risks of hydrogen-fuelled vessels.

In Singapore, ST Engineering has revealed its intention to retrofit a hydrogen fuel cell into an existing tug to test the viability of the technology for zero-emissions harbour operations in the Port of Singapore.