Ian TaylorBureau Veritas Marine & Offshore (BV) has announced its participation in NavHyS, a European research project dedicated to advancing the use of liquid hydrogen (LH₂) in maritime applications.
Funded by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership and officially launched in January this year, NavHyS brings together a consortium of 14 partners from across Europe.
In a statement issued today (30 April), BV said that it has worked with fellow NavHyS member ArianeGroup in developing the project proposal and consortium structure and also contributed its expertise in safety, rule development, and classification to support innovation in hydrogen-fuelled vessels.
BV added that NavHyS focuses on ‘one of the most technically ambitious aspects of hydrogen deployment at sea’: the use of below-deck Type C LH₂ tanks as marine fuel for service operation vessels (SOVs).
In order to support this work, BV will deliver three Approvals in Principle (AiPs) through its Design Assessment activities, covering the liquid hydrogen storage system, fuel system, and their integration into an SOV.
In addition to classification and AiPs, BV will lead safety research and rule development specific to liquid hydrogen in maritime environments. The project will also examine shore-based hydrogen supply solutions and the lifecycle of hydrogen-fuelled vessels.
The NavHyS project is scheduled to run for three years, with an EU contribution of €5 million. The project is expected to reach Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 8-9 by 2030, enabling scalable, real-world deployment by 2035-2040.
The project aims to deliver a concept for SOVs supporting offshore wind farms. The design envisions storage tanks of 200-300 cubic metres (cbm), capable of carrying 12-18 tonnes of liquid hydrogen, bunkered at 10 tonH2/hour, and providing up to 10 days of autonomous operation.
BV President Matthieu de Tugny commented: ‘BV is proud to support the NavHyS project and contribute to overcoming the technical and safety challenges linked to liquid hydrogen deployment in shipping. Our involvement in this innovative consortium reflects our commitment to supporting advanced technologies that accelerate maritime decarbonisation, helping to shape a safe, scalable future for hydrogen-powered vessels.’
Image: BV
Rhys Berry
