The World's First Marine Engine Certified to Run on 100% Hydrogen Just Cleared Its Biggest Hurdle

The world’s first marine engine certified for 100% hydrogen marks a significant step for zero-carbon shipping, with Belgian firm BeHydro receiving the first Type Approval Certificate from Lloyd’s Register. The joint venture between ABC Engines and CMB.TECH covers a spark-ignited internal combustion engine designed to burn only hydrogen, unlike earlier dual-fuel systems that use hydrogen mixed with diesel. Lloyd’s Register says the certification process hurdle has been cleared, enabling wider commercial consideration. BeHydro’s engine targets power output from 900 kW to 2,670 kW and does not require pilot fuel. Designed for tugboats, ferries, and other medium-sized vessels, it aims to reduce transition costs by retaining much of conventional diesel-engine architecture. Challenges remain because hydrogen needs costly storage, either compressed at very high pressures or liquefied at about -423°F.