Among a number of designs being drawn up for liquid hydrogen tankers is one by Netherlands-based C-Job Naval Architects that would feature a trapezium-shaped hull supporting three cryogenic storage tanks of 12,500m3 capacity each.
The 141.75m by 34.9m vessel would be employed by Amsterdam-based LH2 Europe to move liquid hydrogen from Scotland to Germany and would be powered by hydrogen fuel cells capable of utilising a small potion of the hydrogen being transported.
The trapezium-shaped hull design was selected as it creates enough deck space to hold the tanks without the need for ballast.
While LNG tankers use ballast water to compensate for the loss of weight after cargo delivery to ensure enough draught, liquid hydrogen is 20 times lighter than LNG thus ballast is not needed. The 14-knot vessel, to have zero greenhouse gas emissions during operation, is projected to be in service by 2027.
Report by Jim Shaw
