Abstract: Metal hydride hydrogen storage is a hydrogen storage method based on the principle of chemical absorption. Featuring high volumetric hydrogen storage density and high safety, its potential applications in the field of hydrogen storage on ships have attracted significant attention. Against this background, there is a series of issues to be studied, such as material properties, reactor performance, thermal management systems, cost, etc. This paper categorizes metal hydride hydrogen storage technology, summarizes its working principle and research progress on its material properties, and introduces its applications on ships. Next, combined with the application environment and demands of hydrogen ships, the paper analyzes the technological and economic feasibility of the application of metal hydride hydrogen storage technology on ships. To meet the requirements of hydrogen ships for hydrogen storage capacity and release rate, research on marine metal hydride hydrogen storage systems is introduced, including hydrogen storage system performance research, hydrogen storage reactor structure, reactor structure optimization and design ideas for thermal management systems coupled with marine fuel cell and hydrogen storage systems. Finally, the research direction of marine metal hydride hydrogen storage systems is predicted and summarized.