World’s first liquid hydrogen shipment to set sail for Japan

Australia’s hydrogen industry has reached a significant milestone with its first shipment of liquefied hydrogen.

A specially-built ship, the Suiso Frontier, will transport the hydrogen from the Port of Hastings in Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula to Kobe, Japan. The event is a key milestone in the Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) Pilot Project and marks the start of a major new energy export industry for Australia. The HESC pilot is the first project to make and transport liquefied hydrogen between 2 countries by sea.

A ceremony at Port of Hastings today marked the ship’s arrival from Japan.

Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction, the Hon Angus Taylor MP and Minister for Resources and Water, the Hon Keith Pitt MP addressed attendees. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan in Australia, Mr Shingo Yamagami also gave a speech. Special Adviser to the Australian Government on Low Emissions Technology, Dr Alan Finkel chaired the event. The event was live streamed to Japan.

A group of people in high visibility vests stand in front of a ship docked at port
A ceremony at Port of Hastings marked the Suiso Frontier's arrival from Japan. Image credit: HESC Project Partners and representatives

The Suiso Frontier is expected to deliver the first shipment of liquefied hydrogen later this year. This will show that making, liquefiying and transporting hydrogen is possible. It is an important step forward in the HESC pilot, which is developing the world’s first intercontinental liquefied hydrogen supply chain.

The arrival of the Suiso Frontier shows the benefits of the Japan-Australia partnership on decarbonisation through technology. Clean hydrogen is one of the technologies we are working to progress together.

Hydrogen is a priority technology in the Australian Government’s Low Emissions Technology Statement. The HESC pilot is an important part of growing Australia’s hydrogen export industry. It is already delivering jobs in Victoria, with more potential economic gains for Australia in the future.