The prototype ship, designed by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, departed Kobe, Japan on December 25, 2021, carrying 55 tonnes of liquid hydrogen, and was to load additional hydrogen at the Port of Hastings, Australia before returning to Kobe.
Having arrived in Hastings on January 20, 2022, then receiving extra fuel, and while birthed on the evening of January 25, a gas control equipment malfunction occurred, the ASTB said.
H2 View understands a worker onboard the Suiso Frontier witnessed a yellow gas flame “briefly propagate” from the gas combustion unit’s (GCU) vent stack on the ship’s deck. The ASTB added, there was no subsequent fire or explosion, and no injuries or damage were reported.
An ASTB investigation, launched in April 2022, found the gas combustion unit’s air fan discharge damper actuators – which regulate the flow of air into the unit – were fitted with direct current (DC) electrical solenoid values, which were incompatible with the 230V alternating current (AC) supply from the GCU control system.
“During roughly 400 hours prior to the occurrence, the solenoid values were subjected to conditions for which they were not designed,” said Angus Mitchell, Chief Commissioner at the ASTB. “When one of these solenoid valves failed, the fan discharge damper it was operating closed. Consequently, the temperature of the GCU increased, eventually resulting in the discharge of flame from the unit’s vent stack.”
Additionally, the ASTB found the GCU was not equipped to detect the failure of the value, not the subsequent closing of the damper. “Automated safety controls intended to detect a malfunction to prevent such an incident were not effective,” Mitchel added.
Saacke, the manufacturer of the GCU, fitted limit switches on each air fan discharge damper to monitor damper position, in response to the incident.
Mitchell said the ASTB investigation highlighted the importance of ensuring automated shipboard operating systems are equipped with safety controls to prevent hazardous consequences in the event of malfunction.
He added, “The incident also shows the importance of stringent manufacturer quality controls to ensure correct system components are specified and fitted to equipment.”
On January 21 (2022), the Australian Government announced the Suiso Frontier left the port in Victoria, headed back to Kobe, carrying liquid hydrogen.
Read more: Australian hydrogen industry marks major milestone with first export of liquid hydrogen to Japan
Kawasaki Heavy Industries on February 25, 2022, then announced the ship had arrived back in Japan with its first cargo from Australia.
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