Meet Padmini Mellacheruvu, An Ex-ISRO Scientist Who Wrote Rules For Hydrogen-Powered Ships

The global shipping industry, like many other key fossil-fuel-dependent sectors, is also transitioning into alternative fuels and Hydrogen has emerged as one of the most promising solutions.

And an India-born scientist has played a major role in laying down the rules for hydrogen-powered ships.

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Who is Padmini Mellacheruvu

Padmini Mellacheruvu, a former engineer associated with cryo rocket systems at the Indian Space Research Organisation helped write the world¡¯s first class rules¡¯ for Hydrogen-powered ships.

According to The Economic Times, Mellacheruvu who was born in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, and is a Mechanical Engineering graduate from BITS Pilani is currently working with London-based Lloyd's Register, the oldest and one of the top global ship classification societies.

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Mellacheruvu is the Lead Technical Specialist in cryogenic and compressed fuel systems at Lloyd's Register.

What Lloyd's Register does

While Lloyd's Register, which was founded in 1760 has been certifying ships for seaworthiness for centuries, Hydrogen-powered vessels were unprecedented.

This is done by framing rules that are referred to as 'class rules' and Mellacheruvu who had worked with cryogenic rocket systems during her time in ISRO helped write the world¡¯s first rules for hydrogen-powered ships, which was unveiled in June 2023.

Rules for Hydrogen-powered ships

According to Lloyd's Register, the new rules for hydrogen join existing guidelines for methanol, ethanol, ammonia, and ¡®drop-in¡¯ liquid biofuels, each addressing specific hazards associated with its respective fuel.

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It described the regulations as a milestone in the maritime industries' pivot towards sustainable operations, steering ships toward a future where clean, renewable energy sources are the norm. As hydrogen gains ground as a viable alternative fuel, it could revolutionize maritime transportation and contribute to reducing the sector¡¯s carbon footprint.

In December 2024, another classification society, Bureau Veritas (BV) has also published its first classification Rules for hydrogen-fueled ships.

According to BV, Rules for hydrogen-fuelled ships aim to mitigate the risk of hydrogen leakage, fire, or explosion, with detailed requirements for machinery and engine design, as well as the vessel¡¯s configuration and the arrangement of fuel tanks and other systems on board.

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