Ulsan Small Hydrogen-Powered Vessel Design Principles 'OK'... Concept Approval Certification Obtained

Korean Register Approves Hydrogen Ship Technology for Safety and Feasibility

Ulsan City’s design principles for small ‘hydrogen vessels’ have been approved, accelerating the project.

On the 13th, Ulsan City announced that it had obtained the Approval In Principle (AIP) certification for the ‘Safety-Based Small Hydrogen Propulsion Vessel’ from the Korean Register.

AIP (Approval In Principle) refers to the principle approval of a conceptual design that has not yet been manufactured in the shipbuilding, marine, and industrial plant sectors. It is a stage that verifies the safety and performance validity of the development target.

At 11 a.m. on the same day, a ‘Concept Approval Certification Ceremony’ was held at the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Demonstration Center in Duwang-dong, Nam-gu, attended by five representatives from Ulsan City, the Korean Register, Ulsan University, Seho Marine Solutions Co., Ltd., and the Korea Research Institute of Ship and Ocean Engineering Equipment, which are joint research and development institutions.

The vessel that received the AIP certification is a 40-passenger, 350kW-class small hydrogen vessel, for which the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Ulsan City are providing project funding, and Ulsan University is conducting technology development and demonstration projects.

With this certification, Ulsan City has officially recognized the technical suitability of hydrogen vessels and related technologies.

Additionally, by proactively securing technologies related to the development of hydrogen propulsion eco-friendly vessels, it has taken a step closer to realizing zero-carbon ships.

An official from Ulsan City said, “In response to carbon regulations, not only newly built vessels but also existing vessels are being replaced with eco-friendly ships. During the remaining project period, we will actively collaborate with research and development institutions to secure differentiated technological capabilities in the hydrogen and shipbuilding sectors.”

The safety-based small hydrogen propulsion vessel technology development and demonstration project led by Ulsan University is a project to develop a commercializable 40-passenger small hydrogen propulsion vessel by 2026 through the development of safety platform-based design and analysis technologies and safety monitoring technologies, with a total project cost of 29.6 billion KRW (18.4 billion KRW national funds, 6 billion KRW city funds, and 5.2 billion KRW private investment).

Ulsan City Hall.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.