Functional safety analysis development of a marine PEM fuel cell using IEC 61511 and risk based certification

Functional safety ensures the reliable operation of complex systems by guaranteeing that automatic protection functions respond correctly to faults or abnormal conditions. As hydrogen fuel cells emerge in the maritime sector, safe integration of these technologies becomes critical, yet dedicated functional safety standards for marine applications remain limited. This thesis investigates the functional safety development of a marine Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell system by combining IEC 61511 functional safety lifecycle principles, IEC 62282 fuel cell guidance, and risk-based maritime certification approaches. The study analyses the system architecture, including the stack and auxiliary subsystems such as hydrogen storage, gas supply, cooling, ventilation, and automation, and applies structured risk analysis techniquesPHA, HAZID, and HARA to identify hazards, define Safety Instrumented Functions (SIFs), and assign Safety Integrity Levels (SILs). Key safety documentation, including the Safety Requirements Specification (SRS) and Safety Design Requirements Specification (SDRS), is developed to ensure alignment with IEC 61511 and methodological inspiration from ISO 26262. The results demonstrate that a structured functional safety framework can be effectively applied to marine hydrogen fuel cell systems, enhancing safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance, and supporting the maritime sector’s transition toward low-emission energy technologies.