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Zero Carbon Cruising: BeHydro Earns First Class Approval For Pure Hydrogen Propulsion
Certifying Zero Emissions
Shipowners face heavy pressure to adopt clean energy formats for their commercial fleets. Lloyd’s Register has officially issued the first Type Approval Certificate for a 100% hydrogen-fuelled marine engine. Developed by the Belgian joint venture BeHydro, this spark-ignited platform operates entirely on hydrogen gas. The certification confirms the design meets strict safety and reliability requirements, marking a crucial step for commercial readiness in heavy-duty maritime applications.
Eliminating Pilot Fuels
Previous iterations of hydrogen propulsion relied on a dual-fuel approach to maintain stability. While BeHydro secured approval for an 85% hydrogen dual-fuel system in 2023, this new model removes conventional fuel dependencies entirely. By eliminating the need for a pilot fuel, the system simplifies onboard logistics and cuts carbon emissions to zero directly at the source. The resulting exhaust produces only air and water vapor.
Scalable Power Architecture
A viable propulsion alternative must accommodate significant commercial tonnage. BeHydro offers these pure hydrogen engines in configurations ranging from 900 kW to 2670 kW. The lineup includes 6DZ, 8DZ, 12DZ, and 16DZ variants, providing flexible power generation for everything from tugboats to cruise ships. Furthermore, these units are fully compliant with EU stage V and IMO Tier 3 regulations without requiring DPF or SCR exhaust treatments.
Resource Independence and Longevity
The shift to alternative energy often introduces supply chain complications regarding raw materials. The BeHydro combustion engines avoid using rare or conflict resources like lithium, zinc, cobalt, and platinum. ABC Engines, operating out of Ghent, tested and developed this platform to deliver an estimated 150,000-hour running lifespan. This robust construction ensures that ship operators acquire long-term mechanical durability alongside sustainable performance.
The Commercial Framework
Bringing this hardware to market required specialized industry backing. BeHydro combines the manufacturing infrastructure of Anglo Belgian Corporation (ABC) with the operational perspective of CMB.TECH. While ABC supplies over a century of medium-speed engine expertise, CMB.TECH controls a fleet of over 150 ocean-going vessels, providing immediate integration opportunities. Independent certification by Lloyd’s Register now gives global shipowners the verified data needed to transition their fleets toward zero-carbon operations confidently.
