RINA awards Type Approval to VINSSEN for maritime fuel cell stack
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South Korea’s maritime decarbonisation technology provider VINSSEN on Friday (21 March) said it has received Type Approval from Italian classification society RINA for its 60kW maritime fuel cell stack.
The company said the approval will accelerate the demonstration and commercialisation of VINSSEN’s 120kW maritime fuel cell power generation system.
Despite the absence of clear maritime hydrogen-related legal standards, the company has leveraged regulatory sandboxes to systematically conduct technology verification and rigorous certification procedures, demonstrating its technical expertise.
“The recent Type Approval from RINA not only strengthens international confidence in hydrogen fuel cell technology for eco-friendly ships but also marks a significant step toward full commercialisation,” it said.
“This milestone reflects the company’s commitment to promoting hydrogen fuel cells as a key solution for reducing maritime carbon emissions.”
The certification process involved performance and environmental tests based on IEC standards, all of which VINSSEN successfully passed. The vibration test confirmed the system’s durability under specific frequency and acceleration conditions.
Additionally, the dielectric strength test showed that the system could withstand high voltage without insulation failure, meeting all required standards.
“These challenging tests were successfully completed, confirming the reliability and safety of VINSSEN’s fuel cell module for maritime and shipbuilding applications,” the company said.
Looking ahead, VINSSEN plans to accelerate the development of next-generation hydrogen fuel cell solutions, including a 150kW high-output fuel cell stack and an onboard fuel cell power generation system using reformed gas (75% hydrogen and 25% nitrogen). These innovations will increase the feasibility of applying MW-class hydrogen fuel cell systems to larger vessels.
A VINSSEN representative said: “This Type Approval is a key milestone for the commercialisation of MW-class maritime hydrogen fuel cell systems. We will continue leading the maritime market through ongoing technological innovation and the pursuit of global certifications.”
Manifold Times recently reported VINSSEN receiving an Approval in Principle (AIP) certification from the Korean Register (KR) for Korea’s first tugboat featuring a hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system.
Related: KR awards AiP to VINSSEN for Korea’s first hydrogen fuel cell-powered tugboat
Photo credit: VINSSEN
Published: 24 March, 2025
