As testing of critical ship components advances, the EU-funded HySeas III project has revealed the project’s initial photographs.
The initial plans for what will be the first fuel cell sea ferry in Europe have been finished, so we know roughly what the ship will resemble. The double-ended passenger and automobiles train, which was created as part of the EU-funded HySeas III project, will have a capacity for 120 passengers and 16 cars or 2 trucks.
The AqualisBraemar LOC Group’s ideas serve as a model for future zero-emission ferry transport.
The ship was made to go between Kirkwall and Shapinsay in the Orkney Islands, which are north of mainland Scotland and where the hydrogen is made using wind energy. The ferry will nevertheless be able to run at additional places where hydrogen might become accessible.
According to the European Shipping Environmental Report 2021, 13.5% of the total greenhouse gas emissions from the EU’s transportation sector are attributable to ships.
In parallel, a string test is being conducted in Norway to thoroughly certify the ship’s powertrain prior to construction. The chain test involves assembling and testing each important part of the powertrain in turn, including the stack system to combustible, batteries, multi-drives, transformers, etc. Ballard Power Systems, the project’s Danish partner, is assisting HySeas III partner Kongsberg Maritime in Norway as they complete a full spectrum of commissioning, safety, and verification testing.
In order to realize the first seagoing hydrogen-powered RoPax ferry and create a business model for European islands, the HySeas III project’s ferry design is anticipated to be finished in March 2022. Following this date, CMAL will look for funding to move forward with the development stage, procurement, and ultimately tendering and building the vessel.
