Port of IJmuiden has the first hydrogen bunkering permit in the Netherlands

In the port of IJmuiden, the first hydrogen bunkering permit ever issued in the Netherlands was granted, enabling Windcat Workboats, a subsidiary of Compagnie Maritime Belge (CMB), to bunker its crew transfer vessel Hydrocat 48.

After Windcat Workboats, in association with the Ports of IJmuiden and Amsterdam, investigated the prerequisites to make bunkering hydrogen feasible, the IJmond Environmental Service issued a permit for the practice on behalf of Velsen Municipality.

Willem van der Wel, managing director of Windcat Workboats, said, “This license represents a major step in the possibility to use hydrogen as a fuel for vessels and increasing the sustainability of the sector.” He added that because bunkering hydrogen for shipping is a new development, the licensing process was quite difficult.

The Hydrocat 48 CTV, driven by a dual-fuel mixture of hydrogen and marine gas oil, is undergoing testing in the Norther offshore wind farm, which is based out of the port of Oostende and has a turbine manufacturing facility for Vestas. Due to a lack of green hydrogen, which CMB has also been working on, the vessel, was developed with CMB’s clean technology division, CMB.Tech, will initially be primarily powered by grey hydrogen. Most recently, CMB teamed up with Ports of Stockholm to establish a hydrogen fueling station at Stockholm Norvik Port.

According to Amsterdam IJmuiden Offshore Ports (AYOP), bunkering hydrogen for ships is a significant breakthrough in improving the sustainability of the ports of IJmuiden and Amsterdam as well as the larger maritime industry.

One important area for supplying renewable energy is the North Sea. The North Sea Canal region will produce the majority of the 21 GW of offshore wind anticipated for 2030, therefore accommodating port and dock infrastructure will be necessary. This framework includes investments for laying the groundwork for the construction, installation, and upkeep of wind farms.

“Working on the changeover will be done as clean as possible,” AYOP added. “Vessels traveling to and from these wind farms may now benefit from bunkering hydrogen.”