Offshore Supply Vessel Coastal Liberty has set sail on the Wadden Sea operating only on hydrogen and batteries and producing no emissions. In February, the refitted OSV received class certification by DNV for its newly installed hydrogen system engineered by eCap Marine.
eCap Marine developed a containerized system with two Ballard FCwave (2x200kW) fuel cells, a maritime battery system from Lehmann Marine, a fire extinguishing system, tank units, a custom power management system, and all necessary cooling and safety equipment.
Lars Ravens, Managing Director of eCap Marine, states that this kind of system is a unique installation on board a seagoing ship and scalable up to megawatt-sized designs for larger commercial ships and longer voyages as well as smaller inland vessels.
The green hydrogen for the installed fuel cells will be produced locally and sustainably, using offshore wind power on a electrolyzer hydrogen plant a few kilometers from the vessel’s berth that was installed simultaneously to the fuel cell project. The electrolyzer is designed to expand in case of a higher demands. eCap Marine said it designed the three swappable high pressure tank systems with the focus on safety, and in alignment with the rules and regulations resulting to the transport of the units between the vessel and the electrolyzer by truck.
For the vessel’s crew, eCap said, the new system means reduced vibrations on board and a more direct propulsion allowing immediate response to the propeller shafts. Jochen Kaufholt, CEO of Offshore Service Gesellschaft, describes the Coastal Liberty a first of its kind and a flagship for the maritime energy transition in Europe.
eCap Marine said it believes that this investment will not only have a positive impact on the environment but will also bring long-term benefits for its customers and society as a whole.
