ABS grants world’s first design approval for compressed hydrogen carrier

This approval follows the completion of extensive Front End Engineering Design (FEED) work and ABS review activities. It also confirms that the multi-layered hydrogen tank can be incorporated into Provaris Energy’s H2Neo Carrier.

The next steps are to construct and test a prototype hydrogen tank, and to prepare for ship construction with selected shipyards. Provaris’ Chief Technical Executive Officer, Per Roed commented on the occasion:

We are confident that our compressed hydrogen carriers can safely and effectively establish the maritime transportation of hydrogen at a time when storage and transport remain key to unlocking markets with ambitions for hydrogen imports at scale from 2026

Provaris has now spent 12 months completing this extensive FEED level design package for the H2Neo. This work program confirms that:

• The ship design is verified as capable of transporting compressed hydrogen at bulk scale at 250 bar pressure;
• The FEED package is sufficient for shipbuilders to quote (price and schedule) with confidence;
• Critical safety studies, process and risk analyses have been carried out, which allowed ABS to verify relevant safety aspects of the ship’s design and operation.

What is more, to avoid boil-off / cargo losses and the need for insulation and energy-intensive cooling during the voyage, the hydrogen is carried at ambient conditions. At these conditions, the design pressure rating of the cargo containment system has been determined to be 250 bar.

The loading of compressed hydrogen directly into the GH2 Carriers can be accomplished through compressors eliminating the need for onshore hydrogen storage and/or facilities to convert the hydrogen into alternative forms at the loading port such as ammonia or liquefied H2.

Similarly, the hydrogen will be delivered directly through simple decompression from the ship’s cargo tanks, largely using the energy stored in the cargo tanks, and there will be no need for facilities at the receiving terminal to store and/or crack, change, or regas the cargo before distribution.