ABS Approves Provaris hydrogen carrier design

In an industry-first for a bulk hydrogen gas carrier, ABS completed the review of front-end engineering design for the Provaris design. ABS granted Approval in Principle to the H2Neo in 2021.

The approval means a shipyard can now be appointed for the final construction design of the 26,000 cu m carrier, which could see an operational vessel by 2026.

ABS said the next stages for the project will be prototype testing, shipyard selection and creation of detailed construction designs. Clarksons' newbuild team has been appointed to carry out a shipyard selection process and tender.

Provaris said the design approval for the compressed hydrogen concept H2Neo enables the development of its plans for H2Max, a larger 120,000 cu m H2 carrier.

“ABS recognizes the potential that hydrogen shows in supporting a sustainable, lower carbon future. Safe and efficient storage and transportation of hydrogen at sea will be critical to the development and viability of the global hydrogen value chain.

“ABS is pleased to award Provaris approval of their design, and we look forward to continuing this relationship into continued testing and construction stages of H2Neo carriers, including a yard selection process, and to support Provaris during ship operations on the numerous, interesting projects on the H2 horizon,” said Patrick Ryan, ABS Senior Vice President, Global Engineering and Technology.

Provaris’ Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Martin Carolan said: “Compressed H2 can deliver a safe, economic and energy efficient hydrogen shipping and transport solution that is essential to meet the climate targets for 2030 and beyond. Provaris has set itself ambitious targets for the detailed engineering and approvals required to develop the H2Neo carrier, and I am pleased to say our team has delivered on-time and under-budget a unique approach to marine hydrogen transport that is also a world first.

“We expect this approval milestone to assist with the validation requirements in our commercialization pipeline, and transition Provaris to construction ready status in 2023,” said Carolan.

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