South Korean fuel cell specialist VINSSEN is positioning fuel cells as a main propulsion solution for large ocean-going ships, following Approval in Principle (AIP) for an ammonia-fuelled LR2 tanker concept.
The AIP, granted by Bureau Veritas to MISC Berhad and Samsung Heavy Industries, confirms that a tanker powered entirely by fuel cells—using ammonia as a hydrogen carrier—can meet current safety and regulatory expectations.
Unlike earlier maritime fuel cell projects focused on auxiliary loads or smaller vessels, the LR2 concept is designed to cover propulsion, cargo handling and onboard power.
VINSSEN’s contribution centers on a modular PEM fuel cell architecture, with six 2 MW MEGA FC 2.0 units proposed to meet the vessel’s total power demand and enable scalability for other ship types.
Hydrogen would be supplied onboard via an ammonia cracking system from Panasia, integrating fuel processing and power generation into a single zero-carbon concept.
VINSSEN said the project is as much about establishing class-approved safety and design frameworks as it is about technology, laying groundwork for fuel cells to move from niche applications to mainstream commercial shipping
