LEGO bioplastic bricks, castor bean coats, world’s first hydrogen powered ferry and carrier ship, and more: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the week of December 20th

#2 Kawasaki Heavy Industries debuted the world’s first liquid hydrogen carrier ship

In Japan, Nikkei Asian Review reports that Kawasaki Heavy Industries debuted the world’s first marine liquified hydrogen carrier which is expected to be completed by next fall. A crowd of 4,000 people gathered for the naming and launch ceremony of the vessel. The 116-meter long vessel liquifies hydrogen at minus 253 degrees Celsius, which allows the cargo to be compressed to one-800th of its gaseous volume, vastly enhancing the logistics of hydrogen shipments. The carrier will transport hydrogen produced in Australia from cheap coal, a non-renewable resource, but according to Kawasaki and other stakeholders in order for hydrogen to be cost-competitive, a global supply chain and mass shipments will have to be realized. To this end, Kawasaki plans to commercialize its liquid hydrogen vessel around the year 2030, and will develop models larger than its current 116-meter version.
More on the story, here.