LR and PNU move to standardise liquid hydrogen shipping systems

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A new partnership between Lloyd’s Register and Pusan National University aims to establish the first internationally recognised certification framework for liquid hydrogen carriers and onboard systems, addressing a key bottleneck in maritime decarbonisation.

The agreement, formalised in Seoul by PNU President Jae-Won Choi and LR CEO Nick Brown, comes as the industry struggles with the absence of unified testing and verification standards for hydrogen technologies.

Liquid hydrogen presents unique challenges. It must be stored at minus 253 degrees Celsius, pushing materials, containment systems and safety protocols to their limits. Without consistent standards, shipowners and yards face uncertainty at the design and approval stages.

The collaboration combines LR’s classification expertise with PNU’s cryogenic research capabilities. Together, they will develop a structured certification regime covering containment systems, materials and onboard infrastructure.

The framework will include performance evaluation of storage tanks, insulation systems and piping. It will also assess structural integrity under operational loads and carry out detailed safety and risk studies for onboard hydrogen systems.

In practical terms, the partners are trying to answer a simple question that many in the industry are asking: how do you prove a liquid hydrogen vessel is safe before it ever sails?

Claudene Sharp-Patel, Global Technical Director at LR, said the lack of a clear certification pathway has slowed progress.

“As pressure mounts on shipping to decarbonise, aligning testing, verification and certification under a recognised framework will help reduce barriers and accelerate project development,” she said.

Dr Jae-Myung Lee, Director of the PNU Hydrogen Ship Technology Center, described the agreement as a milestone, effectively positioning PNU as a certification institution for liquid hydrogen systems under LR.

The collaboration builds on ongoing joint research into cryogenic engineering and is expected to inform future class rules and international regulations as hydrogen moves closer to commercial deployment in shipping.