LR (Lloyd's Register) has recently published the world's first "Hydrogen Fuel-Powered Ship Design Standard." The standard was authored by LR's technical expert, Liam Blackmore, over a period of six months.

This standard provides clear requirements for the use of hydrogen as a marine alternative fuel, filling the gap in the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) "International Code of Safety for Ships Using Gases or Other Low-Flashpoint Fuels" (IGF Code) regarding the safe use of hydrogen as a marine alternative fuel. With this standard, ship designers and builders can understand the performance criteria that must be met when using hydrogen as a marine alternative fuel, ensuring safe navigation when using either liquid or gaseous hydrogen as a fuel.

Safety design requirements include:

• Liquefied natural gas fueling stations to be located on open decks, minimizing congestion and providing unobstructed dispersion paths for potential leaks.
• Identification of leak scenarios as part of explosion analysis, along with comprehensive demonstration of environmental and layout factors associated with each case.

LR has already certified hydrogen-powered ship projects, such as:

• Hydroville, a non-SOLAS-class dual-fuel crew transfer vessel owned by Belgian shipowner CMB.
• Hydrotug, the world's first hydrogen-powered tugboat developed by CMB and put into operation last year in Ostend, Belgium.

LR's newly released "Hydrogen Fuel-Powered Ship Design Standard" is applicable not only to hydrogen internal combustion engine power but also to hydrogen fuel cell systems. For instance, two hydrogen-powered ferry projects operated by Torghatten Nord and classed by LR are expected to begin operations on Norway's longest ferry route by 2025