Japan’s Classification Society ClassNK issued an Approval in Principle Design (AiP) for a 5,000KL hybrid electric propulsion oil tanker with hydrogen fuel engines jointly developed by Ueno Transtech Co., Ltd., Yanmar Power Technology Co., Ltd., and Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. This is the first AiP issued for an oil tanker design that uses liquefied hydrogen as fuel.
The vessel was designed as part of the “Development of Hydrogen Engine Large Domestic Tankers and Demonstration of Zero Emission Ships” project, which is subsidized by the Nippon Foundation.
ClassNK reviewed the design concept of this vessel based on the GF Part of the Rules for Steel Ships, which incorporates the IGF Code, “Alternative Fuel Ship Guidelines – Part D Safety Guidelines for Ships Using Hydrogen as Fuel (Version 3.0.0)” and “Guidelines for Fuel Cell Vessels (Version 2.0)” and confirmed compliance with the specified requirements, and issued the AiP. This is the first AiP issued after review based on Part D of the Alternative Fuel Ship Guidelines issued in May 2024.
ClassNK will continue to contribute to further consideration of this project from the perspective of evaluating safety, and strive to support the decarbonization of shipping.
Approval in Principle:
About AiP
At the early design stage or before a specific target ship has been decided, the design is reviewed based on existing regulations such as international treaties and classification rules, and an AiP is issued as proof of conformity with requirements. This prevents rework on regulatory aspects in later processes and shortens the review time at the time of class registration, and can also be used as a technical basis for external appeal of the design status
Main Image: from left: Mr. Tetsuya Kikyo, Team Leader, Marine Ship Team, Marine Business Department, The Nippon Foundation; Masaki Matsunaga, Managing Director and General Manager of Technology Division, Nippon Kaiji Kyokai; Hajime Ueno, Representative Director and COO, Ueno Transtech Inc.; Akihiro Tomita, Executive Officer and General Manager, Marine Sales Department, Power Machinery Division, Yanmar Power Technology Co., Ltd.;Yasunori Kobatake, Representative Director and President, Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.
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