Recommendations for the carriage of liquefied hydrogen in bulk endorsed

The International Maritime Organization’s sub-committee endorsed draft interim recommendations for carriage of liquefied hydrogen in bulk, for submission to the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) for approval. The draft interim recommendations have been developed as the International Gas Carrier (IGC) Code does not specify requirements for liquefied hydrogen in bulk. They are based on the results of a comparison study of similar cargoes listed in the IGC Code, eg liquefied natural gas. They are intended to facilitate the establishment of a tripartite agreement for a pilot ship that will be developed for the research and demonstration of safe long-distance overseas carriage of liquefied hydrogen in bulk. The draft interim recommendations highlight general requirements and special requirements for liquefied hydrogen, such as the provision of portable hydrogen detectors for each crew member working in the cargo area; selection of fire detectors for detecting hydrogen fire; and appropriate safety measures to prevent formation of explosive mixtures in the case of a leakage of hydrogen.