The class company Lloyd’s has given the hydrogen ferries to Torghatten approval in principle.
The classification society Lloyd’s has granted the hydrogen ferries to Torghatten in principle. Thus, the start of construction is approaching.
With “Approval in Principle”, Torghatten and the design company Norwegian Ship Design can proceed with the technical specifications that the shipyards can price.
The Norwegian shipyards and the maritime community are afraid the construction contract will end up abroad if price is the only decisive factor. The Ministry of Transport told TU that the government will not interfere.
The equipment packages to be procured and that Norwegian industry can help develop are estimated by Torghatten at between NOK 400–450 million for the two hydrogen ferries.
Torkild Torkildsen, Torghatten Nord CEO, said:
In this process, we are opening up new and exciting opportunities for Norwegian industry.
AIP markup
Torghatten has chosen the British classification society Lloyd’s to assist with the design in accordance with their guidelines and requirements.
On Friday morning Torghatten, Norwegian Ship Design and Lloyd’s marked the AIP milestone for the project at an event at Havet in Bodø.
“We are very pleased with the approval and we are proud to work together with the foremost experts on hydrogen as fuel on ships. Developing hydrogen ferries on such a long and harsh stretch is a world-class climate project with great significance for the entire maritime sector and not least Bodø and Lofoten,” says Torkildsen.
Markus Büsig, head of Lloyd’s ship register in Northern Europe, said the AIP had been granted after extensive analysis and testing of the concept and technology.
Important for the whole world
Markus Büsig, head of Lloyd’s ship register in Northern Europe, said:
We are pleased to grant Torghatten Nord a principled approval based on a comprehensive risk analysis of concept and technology.
“Lloyd’s Register has been present in Norway for 150 years and we see this as a very important project that will drive the use of hydrogen as a safe and sustainable fuel,” says Büsig.
The great importance the Lloyd’s boss points out has caused the Norwegian maritime community to react to the fact that the Norwegian Public Roads Administration and the Ministry of Transport and Communications did not attach importance to anything other than price.
Thus, there is a high probability that a foreign shipyard will receive the construction contract. This may mean that the Norwegian maritime community misses out on the opportunity to build expertise.
Important for shipyards and industry
Narve Mjøs, Programme Director for the Green Shipping Programme (GSP), said:
The shipyards are the hub of the maritime cluster.
“This is where expertise is gathered and built up in a close community. If the contract goes abroad, the Norwegian maritime industry will miss out on a golden opportunity to take important steps in green shipping.”
Torghatten’s ceo would like to build at a Norwegian shipyard, but is calling for incentives. He believes there is still time for the authorities to take action that can help the Norwegian communities.
“We are now working on specifications for the two ferries. We expect to be finished in the autumn. They will then be sent out to relevant shipyards, not least in Norway,” says Torkildsen.
Comprehensive security
Norwegian Ship Design in Førde is well underway with the design work. Managing Director Gjermund Johannessen says that the development of hydrogen vessels is a complicated and extensive job.
Johannessen, Managing Director tells TU, said:
There is not much revolutionary new with the basic concept of the ferry, but there is an extreme focus on safety for passengers and crew and on energy efficiency,
A comprehensive and detailed risk analysis – HAZID – has been carried out in which hydrogen expertise (HYEX Safety) and some potential suppliers have participated. The hydrogen ferry must be at least as safe as a diesel ferry in order to satisfy national and international requirements and be issued certificates.
Far from passengers
Everything related to the hydrogen system and power generation is located at the top of the ferries, between the two bridges. The hydrogen system consists of hydrogen storage tank area, fuel cell room (FC room), and fuel preparation area (containers for pressurized hydrogen, pipes, valves and regulators) fuel cells and control system.
Hydrogen and oxygen react in a chemical process in fuel cells and produce electricity. The “exhaust” consists only of water and steam. The batteries are located in the hull as is common in a modern battery ferry.
The hydrogen ferries will have biodiesel generators so that they can operate the connection if there are challenges with hydrogen production. There will be a generator and a thruster at each end of the ferries.
The ship designers have taken into account that hydrogen is very expensive fuel. Therefore, great emphasis has been placed on energy efficiency, from hull and propulsion to heating and ventilation and everything that needs electricity.
“The fuel cells produce some heat that is utilised in the best possible way,” says Johannessen.
A few suppliers of key components were selected for the work on the approval of principles.
Pushing boundaries
“A lot remains to be done on the supplier side. Even though HAZID and hydrogen systems are done with specific suppliers, this does not mean that they are the same ones who get the final contract,” says Johannessen.
He says that there are still demanding processes that remain with a lot of new things that must be taken into account since there is hydrogen on board.
“We push the boundaries. But with AIP, important documentation is in place and an easier job for the shipyards that are going to build,” says Johannessen.
He would like to see it become a Norwegian shipyard and many Norwegian suppliers.
“This makes the project easier to follow up and solve problems along the way. But the most important thing is that it is a good yard. We find good and bad shipyards in all shipbuilding nations,” says Johannessen.
READ the latest news shaping the hydrogen market at Hydrogen Central
Approval of hydrogen ferries for Vestfjorden, August 26, 2022
