-- Lloyds Register and South Korea's Pusan National University have partnered to create the first internationally-recognized joint performance evaluation and certification framework for liquid hydrogen carriers, Lloyds Register said on Monday.
The statement said progress in hydrogen transportation in the maritime sector has been limited due to lack of standards for testing and verification.
The fuel has specific technical requirements including storage at -253 degrees Celsius which requires very specific materials, containment systems and safety precautions, Lloyds Register said.
The new framework will provide "a consistent, globally applicable basis for evaluating performance, safety and reliability, helping to reduce uncertainty at the design and approval stages of projects," it said.
It added that the initiative would combine Lloyd's Register's maritime classification and assurance expertise with PNU's research in cryogenic engineering.
This will inform early-stage vessel and containment projects as they move from concept towards approval and construction.
The two parties will evaluate the cryogenic and insulation performance of storage tanks and associated pipework and check structural integrity under load and carry out safety and risk assessments and develop testing methodologies and certification procedures for the marine environment.