VINSSEN is planning to undertake a demonstration project under the regulatory exemption for “hydrogen fuel cell propulsion ship fueling and operation,” which has been approved by Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy (MOTIE).
Despite a growing global movement towards maritime decarbonization, there are no regulations for hydrogen fuel cell ships in Korea. The fact that only cars can now be refuelled with hydrogen highlights the necessity to define operational guidelines for hydrogen vessels.
With the assistance of municipal authorities from Jeolla Province in Korea, VINSSEN will construct a 16-meter recreational boat powered by a 200kW fuel cell system and a 125kW battery hybrid system after receiving confirmation that its design is eligible for MOTIE’s regulatory exemption.
In the mooring station of the Daebul Industrial Complex, VINSSEN will also create and manage mobile hydrogen fueling stations. They will be built as integrated packages with monitoring equipment designed specifically for vessels. Korea Marine Equipment Research Institute (KOMERI), which will assess vessel stability and hydrogen fuel cell system performance, Jeonnam Technopark, which will help with the execution of the regulatory sandbox project, technical support, and commercialization, and Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH), which will support welding technology and quality management techniques to improve the overall stand.
In order to commercialise hydrogen fuel cell vessels, Ulsan Metropolitan City and the Ministry of SMEs & Startups declared the “Hydrogen Green Mobility Special Zone” in 2019. From January 2020 to March 2022, VINSSEN successfully demonstrated a hydrogen fuel cell propulsion project.
Moreover, VINSSEN is now constructing and delivering a 14-meter electric boat that will cruise the waterways of Suncheon Bay National Garden during the April 2023 Suncheon Bay International Garden Expo. VINSSEN has an emphasis on fuel cell technology, but it is also well-positioned to provide battery solutions to aid in maritime electrification. Fuel cells can operate for longer periods of time and with greater efficiency when combined with batteries.
