Revolutionizing Liquid Hydrogen Transport: HD Korea Shipbuilding’s Groundbreaking Tank Design Approved

HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), a subsidiary of the South Korean conglomerate HD Hyundai, has received Approval in Principle (AIP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for its innovative hydrogen tank design. This approval is a significant step towards facilitating large-scale transport and storage of liquid hydrogen, which is essential for the global energy transition.

The new vacuum insulation system is capable of maintaining temperatures as low as -253 °C while also reducing the time required to create a vacuum in large tanks. This advancement promises safer and more efficient transportation of substantial quantities of liquid hydrogen.

Patrick Ryan, ABS Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, highlighted the importance of hydrogen in decarbonization efforts, noting its roles as fuel, feedstock, energy storage, and for load balancing. He emphasized that as demand for hydrogen increases, the shipping industry will require advanced systems for large-scale storage and transportation.

The project has attracted considerable attention from industry leaders, with collaborations involving Woodside Energy, Mitsui OSK. Lines (MOL), and Hyundai Glovis to develop an ambitious 80 000 cubic meter liquid hydrogen carrier.

Jotaro Tamura, Senior Managing Executive Officer of MOL, remarked that the verification test was a significant milestone in the study of liquefied hydrogen transport, addressing the challenge of increasing tank sizes and marking an important step towards commercialization.

Dr. Byeongyong Yoo, Vice President of HD KSOE, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to advancing energy shipping solutions, including LNG, LPG, ammonia, and CO₂, and emphasized their dedication to achieving net-zero goals through technological innovation.

He stated, “We will continue collaborating with leading global companies to drive the energy transition and achieve net-zero goals.“