A Study on the Legal and Institutional Analysis and Application of Regulatory Exemptions for the Maritime Demonstration of Liquid Hydrogen Transport Test Ships

Liquid hydrogen is emerging as a key clean marine fuel due to its high energy density, but its cryogenic characteristics and high flammability raise complex legal and safety challenges. This study examines the applicability of current Korean laws to the real-sea demonstration of liquid hydrogen transport test vessels, focusing on land, port, and maritime regulations. The analysis identifies legal blind spots, such as the lack of clear standards for temporary bunkering systems, and overlaps in administrative responsibilities across regulatory domains. To address these issues, the study proposes a tailored application of regulatory sandbox systems -both project-type and zone-type- to enable safe, lawful demonstrations. Based on this approach, specific procedures for exemption applications and safety conditions are presented. These results highlight the urgent need for an integrated legal framework and serve as a basis for institutional reform to support future commercialization of hydrogen-powered maritime transport.