We are pleased to inform you of the successful conclusion of the first session of the LH2CRAFT project’s Knowledge Hub webinar series. Titled “Hydrogen as Fuel in the Maritime Sector – Challenges and Opportunities from a Regulatory Perspective,” the session was delivered by Alessandro Maccari, Marine R&D Director at RINA Services S.p.A.
The webinar was organised under Task 11.4 of the LH2CRAFT project, led by the University of Patras. The session was supported by EASN-TIS, who provided both organisational expertise and the webinar hosting platform.
The event attracted a wide audience, including professionals and students from the LH2CRAFT consortium as well as external stakeholders. The level of engagement reaffirmed the importance of expert dialogue in accelerating the adoption of hydrogen technologies in maritime applications.
During his presentation, Mr. Maccari provided an in-depth analysis of the regulatory environment shaping the use of hydrogen in shipping. Key topics included the revision of IMO’s GHG strategy, the introduction of CII and GFI metrics, and the development of interim safety guidelines for hydrogen-fuelled vessels and fuel cell installations. He addressed the complexities of integrating hydrogen under the IGF Code, the evolving EU regulatory framework (including FuelEU Maritime and ETS), and technical challenges such as hydrogen embrittlement, flammability, and containment safety.
The presentation also highlighted RINA’s active role in regulatory development at both IMO level and through industry working groups—emphasising the collaborative effort required to align innovation with safety and compliance.
The presentation slides from the webinar are available to view as a PDF here:
The LH2CRAFT Knowledge Hub webinar series will continue with future sessions focused on cross-sectoral themes and will be coordinated by EASN-TIS.
