Safe and Efficient Marine Transportation of Liquid Hydrogen

The overall goal of LH2CRAFT is to develop next generation, sustainable, commercially attractive, and safe long-term storage and long-distance transportation of Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) for commercial vessels (or even as fuel in certain applications).

It aims at developing an innovative containment system of membrane-type for high-capacity storage (e.g., 200,000 m3) at a temperature of -253 deg C and demonstrating and validating it on a 10 ton (180 m3) prototype.

It foresees the analysis of alternative conceptual designs with safety and risk assessment initiated at an early stage of the design process of the cargo containment system (CCS) exceeding currently demonstrated sizes. The design will allow LH2 storage to large dimensions, similar to those of existing LNG carriers.

Special characteristics (storage tank, handling, distribution, safety, and monitoring subsystems (HDMSS) of the concepts that support up- or down-scaling will be detailed in order to prove the modularity and scalability of the proposed solution. The CCS will achieve AiP and general approval by a major classification society (three IACS members are participating).

Demonstration will be done via the detailed design, construction, and testing of the reduced size prototype.

LH2CRAFT will also develop a preliminary integrated ship design and carry out the corresponding cost estimation, achieving reduced boil-off rates of 0.5 % per day.

A life cycle model will provide a significant tool enabling comparison between different new design or retrofit strategies while the LCA of the large carrier will evaluate the environmental impact from cradle to grave identifying also activities related to sustainability and recyclability and determining the environmental benefits.

Two societal objectives will be served: society’s needs and EU’s strong global maritime leadership for its innovation-driven industry providing highly skilled jobs, efficient technological solutions, and international regulatory standards.