South Korea-based Vinssen, a maritime decarbonization-oriented technology provider, has bagged approval in principle (AiP) from compatriot classification society Korean Register (KR) for the country’s ‘first’ tugboat using a hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system.

According to Vinssen, which primarily focuses on electric and hydrogen hybrid propulsion systems, the AiP—secured in late February this year—is a “major step” in promoting the application of decarbonization technologies to high-carbon-emitting vessels, like tugs.