The partnership will leverage shared resources and expertise to support the creation of a liquid hydrogen carrier and hydrogen propulsion systems. Credit: ABS/Cison.

The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and Pusan National University have entered a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to advance hydrogen technologies within the shipping industry.

This collaboration aims to focus on the development of liquid hydrogen carriers and cryogenic engineering.

The partnership will leverage shared resources and expertise to support the creation of a liquid hydrogen carrier and hydrogen propulsion systems.

ABS senior vice president and chief technology officer Patrick Ryan said: “ABS and Pusan National University’s Hydrogen Ship Technology Center each bring significant technical strength and deep industry experience. By working together, we are confident we can deliver advances in the application of hydrogen technology at sea, including liquid hydrogen carriers.”

The transportation of liquefied hydrogen, which requires storage at a frigid -253° Celsius, represents a significant technological challenge that has yet to be fully realised in the commercial sector. This collaboration marks a step towards overcoming these technical hurdles.

Pusan National University’s Hydrogen Ship Technology Center is spearheading the “Development of Basic Technology for Commercialisation of Liquid Hydrogen Carriers” project.

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The project is a vital part of the K-Shipbuilding Super Gap Vision 2040, a public-private initiative launched by the South Korean government in July 2024.

Hydrogen Ship Technology Center director Lee Jae-Myung said: “The cooperation between our university and ABS will be an important turning point for further advancement in the utilisation of liquid hydrogen, a key field of the future hydrogen economy, through differentiated international exchange activities based on world-class, ultra-low temperature technology.

“We will make joint efforts to create synergy in the development of ultra-low temperature research, an unexplored field of human society.”

In a related development, ABS has granted an approval in principle (AIP) to HD Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering for its innovative cargo handling system design for very large ethane carriers (VLECs).

This system integrates a refrigerant-based reliquefaction process with an ethane fuel supply system, which, according to HD Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering, will help clients reduce operational costs.

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