During a recent Community of Practice organized by Nederlands Instituut Publieke Veiligheid (NIPV), our project coordinator Joshua Dauda (New Energy Coalition) presented key insights on the safe use of hydrogen in port environments. The session drew on articles developed within the NSH2V Ports consortium, which focuses on enabling safe and scalable hydrogen infrastructure across North Sea ports.
The presentation addressed core principles of hydrogen safety, including the ALARP approach, engineering controls, operational procedures, maintenance strategies, and emergency management. Practical examples from Marina Port Valencia, Alkmaar, and the HEAVENN project demonstrated that hydrogen is already being applied safely in real port operations.
Key takeaways from the session included:
- Hydrogen safety depends on strong operational management, clear procedures, and well-trained personnel
- Early coordination and shared safety standards are crucial as hydrogen projects scale
- With the right frameworks and practices in place, hydrogen can become a routine and reliable part of port operations
The discussion also created valuable connections with larger ports currently working on hydrogen bunkering, opening opportunities for further collaboration and knowledge exchange within the NSH2V network.
We would like to thank Thed van Harn and Margreet Spoelstra from NIPV for organizing the Community of Practice and for the opportunity to share our work and expertise on hydrogen safety in ports.
Read the article here