Future Proof Shipping embarks on second hydrogen fuel cell retrofit for cargo ship

Dutch shipowner Future Proof Shipping (FPS) will begin the process of retrofitting its FPS Waal inland container ship to run on hydrogen.

PHOTO: FPS Waal. Future Proof Shipping

The FPS Waal arrived at the Werkendam shipyard, owned by Holland Shipyards Group, FPS says. The vessel's internal combustion engine will be removed and a new propulsion system will be installed.

The propulsion system will include fuel cells, hydrogen storage, battery packs and an electric drive train, FPS says. Over the coming weeks, the main engine and generators will be removed to install a fuel cell section and battery room in the vessel's cargo hold.

FPS and Holland Shipyards Group ordered fuel cells from Canadian manufacturer Ballard Power and batteries from Andorra-headquartered AYK Energy in April. The vessel is expected to have a total cargo capacity of 200 TEU and a fuel cell capacity of 1.2 MW after the retrofit.

In May, FPS and Holland Shipyards Group completed the retrofitting of the FPS Maas vessel and renamed it H2 Barge 1. The companies claim that this was the world's first hydrogen-powered inland vessel.

FPS is aiming to develop 10 zero-emission inland container and shortsea vessels as part of the Flagships consortium, which has earlier won backing from the European Union to deploy zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell vessels.

By Debarati Bhattacharjee

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