Singapore marked a significant milestone in the hydrogen industry as the world's first bulk liquefied hydrogen carrier, named the Suiso Frontier, arrived at the Shell Energy and Chemicals Park Singapore on Pulau Bukom from September 1 to September 7, 2023. This groundbreaking vessel was designed and manufactured by Japan's Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) and is operated by Shell Japan.

Singapore's Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) hosted several distinguished guests, including Teo Chee Hean, Singapore's Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, and Chee Hong Tat, Acting Minister for Transport. Representatives from various government agencies and industry partners also attended separate visits onboard the Suiso Frontier, where they received detailed briefings on the vessel's design and safety features.

Teo Eng Dih, Chief Executive of MPA, emphasized Singapore's commitment to embracing hydrogen as part of its National Hydrogen Strategy announced in late 2022. He highlighted the unique properties of hydrogen and its potential to be produced at scale using renewable sources, positioning hydrogen as a vital element in the transition to a low and zero-carbon future. Dih also expressed MPA's active interest in exploring the use of hydrogen and its carriers as marine fuels.

During the vessel's visit, key stakeholders discussed safety measures, operational procedures, and feasibility studies related to deep-sea transportation and the receipt of liquefied alternative fuels. The collaboration with industry players like KHI and Shell, along with research institutions such as the A*STAR Institute of High Performance Computing, played a crucial role in bringing the Suiso Frontier to Singapore and advancing the hydrogen industry.

Shigeru Yamamoto, Executive Officer and Deputy General Manager of the Hydrogen Strategy Division at KHI, stressed the importance of an international supply chain for liquefied hydrogen by marine transportation to achieve a carbon-neutral world. The Suiso Frontier, as the world's first liquefied hydrogen carrier, demonstrates the feasibility of shipping cryogenic liquefied hydrogen by sea, attracting global attention to this promising technology.

Nick Potter, General Manager of Shell Shipping and Maritime for Asia Pacific and the Middle East, highlighted the significance of deep-sea shipping in facilitating the use of hydrogen as a zero-carbon fuel. The Suiso Frontier represents a crucial step in proving the technical feasibility of liquefied hydrogen shipping.

Operated by Shell Japan under the Hydrogen Energy Supply-chain Technology Research Association (HySTRA) project, funded by the Japanese Government and various partners, the Suiso Frontier has a storage tank capable of carrying up to 1,250 cubic meters of liquefied hydrogen at -253 degrees Celsius. After completing its maiden voyage between Australia and Japan in February 2022, the vessel is currently in the demonstration phase, aiming to assess its performance, reliability, and system integrity through numerous load-unload cycles, thereby gaining valuable operational experience.