Groundbreaking Voyage: Suiso Frontier, World's First Liquefied Hydrogen Carrier, Docks in Oman, Marking a Milestone in Clean Energy
The cutting-edge liquefied hydrogen carrier, Suiso Frontier, is all set to anchor at Sultan Qaboos Port in Muscat on August 14, marking a significant moment in the evolution of clean energy.
Suiso Frontier, the first of its kind, was manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI), Japan's industrial giant. This historic visit to Oman's Sultanate, where Suiso translates to hydrogen in Japanese, is a notable event.
KHI has employed advanced technologies in the carrier's construction, aligning with the Oman government's ambitious vision to spearhead the global race in clean hydrogen production and exportation. The visit underlines the nation's commitment to a sustainable energy future.
Completed in 2020, Suiso Frontier was conceived and crafted by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, a pioneering member of the Hydrogen Council. Its primary mission is to forge a path for global hydrogen utilization and foster cooperation to establish large-scale, commercial global supply chains using hydrogen as a preferred energy carrier.
Supported by the Japanese government, the 116-meter long ship, with a 19-meter width, is designed to transport substantial quantities of liquefied hydrogen by sea. It features a dual tank that can hold 1,250 cubic meters of hydrogen at a chilling -253 degrees Celsius, reflecting Oman's relentless drive to stimulate the green hydrogen economy.
February 2022 marked a triumphant shipment of liquefied hydrogen from Australia to Japan by Suiso Frontier, an 8,000-tonne vessel capable of shipping large quantities of LH2 over vast maritime distances.
Its previous stops included Australia's Victoria's Port of Hastings in January and its inaugural cargo pick-up in Australia the previous December. These activities are part of the monumental $355 million Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) project, a world-first in extracting, liquefying, and transporting LH2 across international waters.
With the ship's journey from Port Hastings to Kobe, Japan, the goal to prove the commercial feasibility of an international hydrogen supply chain emerged, targeting a commercial breakthrough by the early 2030s. Kawasaki, having built the first LNG carriers in Japan and Asia in 1981 and being a leader in refrigeration technology, recently unveiled the world's first liquefied hydrogen carrier equipped with an upgraded system for pressurized refrigerated cargo for LH2, adhering to safety standards of the International Maritime Organisation.
Beginning its hydrogen-related endeavors in 2010, Kawasaki is crafting the essential technologies and products for a comprehensive hydrogen energy supply chain. Their proficiency extends to vacuum-insulated double-wall structures for the cargo tank, rooted in decades of maritime transportation of liquefied natural gas and over 30 years of cryogenic liquefied hydrogen handling.
For nations like Oman, committed to Net Zero 2050 and decarbonization, hydrogen stands as a promising export commodity.
Suiso Frontier's journey signifies more than a trip; it's a landmark in laying the foundation for commercial hydrogen supply chains, anticipating a burgeoning future market in clean energy. It is a tangible step toward a greener world and an emblem of collaborative innovation between nations.