Maritime transport is a critical component of the emerging hydrogen economy, enabling the global trade of hydrogen and its carriers. Several pioneering projects have tested the viability of shipping hydrogen-derived fuels, focusing on ammonia and liquefied hydrogen (LH2) as key vectors. These initiatives provide valuable insights into the technical, economic, and logistical challenges of scaling up hydrogen shipping infrastructure.
One of the most notable projects is the HySTRA (Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain Technology Research Association) initiative, which developed the world’s first liquefied hydrogen carrier, the Suiso Frontier. The project, a collaboration between Japan and Australia, aimed to establish a supply chain for transporting LH2 from Victoria’s Latrobe Valley to Kobe, Japan. The Suiso Frontier, a 116-meter-long vessel with a 1,250 m³ vacuum-insulated storage tank, was designed to maintain hydrogen at -253°C, just 20 degrees above absolute zero. The pilot demonstrated the feasibility of large-scale LH2 transport, though it also revealed challenges such as boil-off gas management and the energy intensity of liquefaction. Initial trials confirmed that the insulation system limited boil-off to acceptable levels, but further optimization is needed to improve efficiency.
Another significant effort is the HEAVEN (Hydrogen Energy Applications in Valley Environments for Northern Netherlands) project, which explored ammonia as a hydrogen carrier. Ammonia’s higher energy density and established shipping infrastructure make it a practical alternative to LH2. The HEAVEN consortium retrofitted an existing tanker to transport green ammonia produced from renewable hydrogen in the Netherlands to end-users in Europe and Asia. The project confirmed that ammonia can be safely stored and transported using conventional vessels with minor modifications. However, the need for cracking facilities to extract hydrogen at the destination adds complexity and cost, highlighting the trade-offs between carrier practicality and end-use readiness.
The Advanced Clean Energy Storage project in Utah, while primarily focused on underground storage, also included a maritime component to assess the transport of hydrogen-derived fuels. Partners tested the shipping of methylcyclohexane (MCH), a liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC), from the U.S. to Japan. MCH is stable at ambient conditions, simplifying transport, but the dehydrogenation process requires significant energy input. The trials underscored the importance of evaluating the full lifecycle energy penalty of carrier-based shipping compared to direct LH2 transport.
Key lessons from these projects include the importance of international collaboration, as regulatory frameworks and safety standards vary significantly across regions. The HySTRA project, for example, required close coordination between Japanese and Australian authorities to align maritime safety protocols. Similarly, HEAVEN’s ammonia trials revealed gaps in existing regulations for hydrogen-derived fuels, prompting updates to the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) codes.
Economic viability remains a hurdle. The Suiso Frontier’s operations highlighted the high costs of LH2 shipping, driven by liquefaction and specialized vessel requirements. In contrast, ammonia shipping benefits from lower infrastructure costs but faces challenges in cracking and purification. Pilot data suggest that scaling up production and optimizing logistics could reduce costs, but further investment is needed to achieve parity with conventional fuels.
Safety is another critical consideration. LH2’s extreme cold and flammability demand rigorous containment and leak-detection systems, while ammonia’s toxicity requires specialized handling procedures. Both the HySTRA and HEAVEN projects invested heavily in crew training and emergency response planning, setting precedents for future commercial operations.
The success of these pilots has spurred further innovation. New vessel designs with larger storage capacities and improved insulation are under development, and hybrid carriers capable of transporting multiple hydrogen carriers are being explored. Meanwhile, ammonia-ready ships are gaining traction as a near-term solution, with several major shipping companies announcing orders for dual-fuel ammonia vessels.
These projects collectively demonstrate that while hydrogen shipping is technically feasible, its commercial deployment depends on overcoming energy inefficiencies, regulatory harmonization, and cost barriers. The data gathered from these initiatives will inform the next generation of hydrogen maritime transport, paving the way for a global hydrogen trade network. As the industry matures, continued collaboration between governments, industry, and research institutions will be essential to address remaining challenges and unlock the full potential of hydrogen as a clean energy vector.