BV updates its rules for hydrogen-fuelled ships

Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore (BV) has updated its NR 678 Rules for the classification of hydrogen-fuelled ships.

The NR 678 Rules were first published in 2023 and, in a notice posted on LinkedIn today (28 April), the classification society said that revisions ‘incorporate learnings from a year of projects involving hydrogen fuel’.

‘Chief among these updates,’ BV added, ‘is a clarification of the follow-up actions for risk assessment and the elements to consider in gas dispersion analysis. The requirements for testing and certification of hydrogen-related components have also been updated and further detailed.’

The rules include chapters on both hydrogen-fuelled ships and also ‘hydrogenfuel-prepared ships’ – the latter notification referring to new ships that are designed to accommodate the future installation of a hydrogen fuel system.

Click here to access BV’s updated NR 678 Rules for the classification of hydrogen-fuelled ships.

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