• Major step towards commercial-scale marine transport of liquefied hydrogen

Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. and TB Global Technologies Ltd. have announced today their jointly developed 6-in. and 16-in. caliber ship shore couplers for liquefied hydrogen (LH₂) transport have passed development tests and obtained technology qualification from Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK).

This type of flange-style coupler is used to connect the cargo handling pipework on a LH₂ carrier ship to a marine loading arm installed on the jetty at the LH₂ site.

The ship shore coupler is a flange-style coupler used to connect the cargo handling pipework on a LH₂ carrier ship to a marine loading arm installed on the jetty at the LH₂ site.

Ensuring high sealing performance and safe usage even under the cryogenic conditions (–253ׄׄ℃) of LH₂, the new couplers have been designed for improved workability during connection. Low-temperature strength testing using LH₂ at the Noshiro Rocket Testing Center of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) showed no problems, and the couplers were technically qualified by ClassNK.

By officially recognizing the reliability of a technology key for constructing the supply chain, this qualification is a major step forward towards the commercial-scale marine transport of liquefied hydrogen. The 6-in. caliber ship shore coupler is scheduled to be applied in the “Liquefied Hydrogen Supply Chain Commercialization Demonstration Project”—Green Innovation Fund Project of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)—a project managed by Japan Suiso Energy, Ltd.. The 16-inch caliber ship shore coupler was developed to meet the anticipated future expansion of liquefied hydrogen demand.

The ship shore coupler connects to the cargo handling pipework on a LH₂ carrier ship Both companies will continue their efforts to develop ship shore couplers essential for marine transport to help create a global supply chain for LH₂and realize a carbon-neutral society.