
The order was not too long ago positioned for the development of an inland waterway vessel that seeks to turn into the primary to run on hydrogen. To be constructed by Concordia Damen for the Dutch shipping firm Lenten Scheepvaart, it’s a part of an progressive undertaking that seeks to develop a brand new era of zero-emission inland shipping and spur the broader improvement of hydrogen energy for shipping. An identical competing undertaking was additionally introduced in March to retrofit one other inland barge to function on hydrogen.
The newly ordered vessel, to be named MV Antonie, shall be 3,700 tons and 442 toes in size. Designed to move salt between Delfzijl within the north of the Netherlands to Botlek within the Port of Rotterdam, the vessel will use gas cell propulsion with a brand new strategy to hydrogen storage. It’s anticipated to enter service in 2023. Hydrogen for the vessel will come from the hydrogen plant in Delfzijl.
The ideas for the vessel had been developed as a part of the Hydrogen Coalition for Inland Transport launched within the Netherlands. The undertaking is looking for to develop the gas cell, and key parts starting from the convertors to the connections, interfaces and storage. Researchers for the undertaking have been engaged on the uncertainties within the dimension, energy, interconnection and operations of the parts within the gas cell electrical configuration growing the battery pack, management methods, connections, alarms and propulsion equipment for the inland vessel.
Concordia Damen CEO Chris Kornet stated, “Greening the inland shipping sector is one thing which we really feel enthusiastic about, and we are going to proceed to work in direction of this aim. I consider there won’t be one single solution to cut back emissions in our sector, however quite a few approaches. Hydrogen is more likely to play an vital position within the achievement of zero emissions in inland shipping. Lenten Scheepvaart are to be counseled for taking this main position.”
The undertaking is being supported by the Netherlands Governmental division of Infrastructure and Water Administration, with the intention to stimulate the event and use of hydrogen as a gas on the trail in direction of zero emissions inland shipping. The federal government supplied a $4.9 million development subsidy to Lenten Scheepvaart.
This undertaking is competing with a similar initiative introduced in March 2021 wherein the Holland Shipyards Group shall be refitting a 360-foot inland vessel, Maas, operated by Future Proof Transport, with hydrogen propulsion. The conversion of the Maas is scheduled to start out within the third quarter of 2021 with the vessel anticipated to be again in service in December.