PRESS RELEASE

Safety of Liquefied Hydrogen Bunkering is Focus ofNew Guidelines
New publication, submitted to IMO CCC 10, outlines key considerations for developing
systems and procedures for safe hydrogen bunkering.
August.22.2024. HOUSTON The Maritime Technologies Forum (MTF) has today released a
new report offering guidelines and key safety considerations for developing liquefiedhydrogen bunkering systems and procedures.
The report underlines the potential use of hydrogen as a zero-emission fuel to meet the IMO
Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships by 2050. It acknowledges thechallenges associated with bunkering hydrogen as marine fuel and as a maritime cargo,identifying design and functional implications and limitations.
Based on the findings of the publication, MTF has outlined the following key observations:
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The properties of hydrogen, and in particular the very low temperature of liquefiedhydrogen, mean that experience gained from bunkering arrangements for liquid
natural gas, LNG, cannot be re-used directly.
The bunkering process will be more complex than it is for LNG, since no nitrogen canbe present inside the piping systems when liquefied hydrogen is introduced, as thiswill freeze and clog the systems.
The material choices and need for more insulated components and piping will also beslightly different.
The development of vessel-specific procedures for bunkering operations, such as
more automated bunkering procedures, will be necessary.
The added complexities will mean that the need for crew training and certification is ofeven higher importance than for other bunkering processes.
The Safety Management Systems should be updated to cater for the additional safety
aspects with liquefied hydrogen bunkering, as outlined in another work carried out byMTF, ‘Guidelines to develop and implement a Safety Management System foralternative fuels on board ships’.

Commenting on the guidelines and the planned submission to the International Maritime
Organization (IMO), Alf Tore Sørheim, Acting Director General of Shipping and Navigation at
the Norwegian Maritime Authority said:“With the current lack of international standards covering bunkering of liquefied hydrogen,these guidelines are especially important to help industry develop and advance safer
bunkering operations. This is why the Flag state members of MTF are jointly submitting thisreport to the IMO to provide recommendations and offer a framework to consider whendeveloping liquefied hydrogen bunkering requirements.”
Further commenting on the report, Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO, DNV Maritime, said:

“Hydrogen is going to continue to play an important role in the energy transition, both as amarine fuel and as a cargo, which is why it is critical to develop standards to support its safe
bunkering. The introduction of these guidelines and their submission to IMO are key steps inaddressing the challenges around liquefied hydrogen bunkering.”
View the full report by downloading here.
Please join us for an upcoming webinar where we will discuss the findings and guidelines
from this report. Register by clicking here.
About MTF
MTF is a forum of Flag States and Classification Societies, established to provide technicaland regulatory expertise to benefit the maritime industry. The role of the Forum is towork together on research that it publishes to the maritime industry and draw on regulatory
expertise to be able to offer unbiased advice to the shipping sector. It seeks to give guidanceon the use of alternative fuels and increased levels of automation in the industry.
Furthermore, it allows for the safe testing and adoption of new technologies and it helps
shape world-leading regulation.
The Flag State administrations include Maritime Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure,
Transport and Tourism, Japan; the Norwegian Maritime Authority; the Maritime andCoastguard Agency, United Kingdom; and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore(MPA). The Classification Society members are ABS, DNV, LR and ClassNK.
Issued on behalf of the Maritime Technologies Forum. For more information, pleasecontact
Jesse Lashbrook
Strategic Marketing DirectorABS
T +1 281 877 6774
M +1 832 906 0459
E jlashbrook@eagle.org