Bureau Veritas has granted Approval in Principle (AIP) certification to CSSC Jiangnan Shipyard for a 20,000 m³ liquid hydrogen carrier designed for long-distance green hydrogen transport between East Asia, the Middle East, and Australia.
Hydrogen Carrier Design Certified
The vessel features Jiangnan Shipyard’s proprietary ultra-low-temperature cargo containment system, enabling safe hydrogen transport while significantly reducing boil-off rate. The AIP certification validates the technical feasibility and safety of the design, paving the way for construction of what would be one of the world’s largest liquid hydrogen carriers.
Long-distance hydrogen shipping requires maintaining cargo at -253°C throughout voyages potentially spanning thousands of nautical miles. The reduced boil-off rate is critical for commercial viability, as hydrogen loss during transport directly impacts the economics of international green hydrogen trade.
Supporting Infrastructure Development
The certified design targets emerging hydrogen export routes from Australia and the Middle East—regions developing large-scale green hydrogen production capacity—to energy-importing nations in East Asia. This aligns with Japan and South Korea’s strategies to import significant volumes of hydrogen as part of their decarbonization pathways.
Why This Matters
AIP certification for a 20,000 m³ hydrogen carrier marks a critical step toward establishing international hydrogen shipping routes. While smaller demonstration vessels have proven the concept, commercial-scale hydrogen trade requires purpose-built carriers with capacities sufficient to make long-distance transport economically viable. The vessel’s focus on East Asia-Middle East-Australia routes directly addresses the anticipated major hydrogen trade corridors of the 2030s, where resource-rich exporters will supply demand centers lacking domestic renewable energy capacity. Bureau Veritas’s independent technical validation reduces investment risk for shipowners and charterers planning to participate in the emerging hydrogen shipping market.
Additional Green Ship Certifications
Bureau Veritas also granted AIP certification to three other Jiangnan Shipyard projects supporting maritime decarbonization:
- 200,000 m³ ULAC-FSRU: Ultra-large ammonia carrier with regasification capability for direct pipeline supply
- 175,000 m³ MARK III Flex LNG Carrier: Optimized design reducing carbon emissions and methane slip
- JINAGAS Ammonia Fuel Supply System: Zero-carbon fuel solution compliant with IMO interim guidelines for ammonia as fuel
The certifications strengthen cooperation between Bureau Veritas and Jiangnan Shipyard, supporting practical deployment of green shipping technologies across multiple alternative fuel pathways.
Source: Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore – “BV Grants AIP Certification to Four Jiangnan Shipyard Projects” (December 29, 2025)
