Regulatory gap analysis for risk-based design of liquefied hydrogen maritime transport vessels

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Park, Chybyung and Jang, Hayoung and Jeong, Byongug and Zhou, Peilin and Wang, Haibin and Mesbahi, Ana and Hwang, Insik and Liu, Yinhua and Mujeeb-Ahmed, M.P. (2026) Regulatory gap analysis for risk-based design of liquefied hydrogen maritime transport vessels. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 217. 153840. ISSN 0360-3199 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2026.153840)

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Abstract

The increasing use of hydrogen for decarbonization and net-zero objectives has positioned the maritime transport of liquefied hydrogen (LH2) as a critical element of the global energy transition. However, safety concepts for LH2 storage, handling, and transportation remain underdeveloped, while technological advancements are still in their infancy. This study examines the fundamental properties of hydrogen and identifies three principal risks: its wide explosion and flammability limits, permeation, and leakage. A comprehensive review of international regulations and classification society guidelines on low-flashpoint fuels reveals that no current framework provides detailed safety requirements for LH2 carriage. To address thesse limitations, this paper emphasizes the need for advanced leakage detection technologies, permeation-resistant materials, and risk assessment methodologies that support the development of robust safety guidelines. The findings contribute to establishing a foundation for the safe design, operation, and regulation of LH2 transport vessels.

ORCID iDs

Park, Chybyung ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6945-9520, Jang, Hayoung ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9497-5076, Jeong, Byongug ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8509-5824, Zhou, Peilin ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4808-8489, Wang, Haibin ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3520-6856, Mesbahi, Ana, Hwang, Insik ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9743-0976, Liu, Yinhua and Mujeeb-Ahmed, M.P. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6688-4222;
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