The Rotterdam-based Future Proof Shipping (FPS) has become part of the EU-supported project that aims to introduce two zero-emission inland waterway vessels.
FPS will aid the initiative with its soon-retrofitted FPS Waal, a 109.8 by 11.4 m container barge, offering 200 TEUs of capacity, set to ply between Rotterdam and Duisburg.
FPS Waal's internal combustion engine will be replaced with a new zero-emissions propulsion system, including proton-exchange membrane fuel cells, hydrogen storage, battery packs, and an electric drive train. The total amount of power installed will be around 1,200 kW.
"We are deploying our second zero-emissions vessel here to help decarbonise this busy stretch of 240 kilometre inland waterway. This route is longer and has significantly higher and varying power demands than the route for the FPS Maas, pushing this project team to elevate their innovation efforts considerably. These are new challenges that we are ready to take on together with the FLAGSHIPS team to blaze a new trail towards zero-emissions inland shipping for all," Richard Klatten, FPS' CEO, commented.
Bart Biebuyck, Executive Director, Clean Hydrogen Partnership, added, "Inland waterways are important for freight transport in Europe and therefore I am pleased to see a high power container vessel being converted to zero-emission. The FPS Waal conversion will bring knowledge on how to retrofit vessels from diesel combustion to zero-emission alternatives by using battery in combination with green hydrogen in a fuel cell. A key aspect is the replicability of this zero-emission retrofit to similar vessels."
"The demand for more sustainable technologies in inland waterway transport is on the rise. With FPS joining us, we have two groundbreaking vessels part of the FLAGSHIPS project. We aim to raise the readiness of zero-emission waterborne transport in Europe, this truly brings us closer to reaching our goal," Jyrki Mikkola, FLAGSHIPS Project Coordinator from VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, also said.
Zulu, owned by the French Compagnie Fluvial de Transport, is the project's other hydrogen cargo vessel, set to operate on the River Seine in Paris.
Photo: Future Proof Shipping