Sydney-listed Global Energy Ventures (GEV) has taken another big step forward in the development of a compressed hydrogen carrier ship for its C-H2 project.

The energy project company said US classification society ABS has given approval in principle to the vessel's containment system, based on a cargo capacity of 2,000 tonnes of hydrogen.

The system, for which there is a patent pending, is the most critical component of the C-H2 project.