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By completing construction of a liquefied hydrogen containment system for the planned vessel, Japanese shipbuilding and engineering company Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) has moved a step closer to a target launch of a 160,000m3 liquefied hydrogen carrier in the mid-2020s.
ClassNK, a Japanese classification society, has given KHI preliminary approval for a 40,000m3 cargo containment device for a liquefied hydrogen carrier. The 43-meter-diameter tank system will be mounted free of the ship’s structure, allowing for versatility in severe cold. The hydrogen in the tank has been liquefied at -253°C and compressed to an 800th of its original volume.
A new heat insulation structure has been added to the hydrogen containment system in order to reduce the production of boil-off gas. The heat insulation system was created using the company’s experience in construction and safety technology, which was previously used on the 1,250m3 Suiso Frontier liquefied hydrogen carrier.
KHI is working on a 160,000m3 liquefied hydrogen carrier that will be made up of four 40,000m3 hydrogen containment systems. The liquefied hydrogen vessels are expected to be commercially deployed after 2030, according to the company.
The hydrogen-related businesses are where KHI is concentrating its efforts. It is taking part in a project to test a hydrogen-powered ferry in Yokohama port in 2024. In addition, by 2025, the company will have partnered with Japanese marine engine manufacturers to produce hydrogen engines for large commercial vessels.
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