US green shipping project developer Switch Maritime is claiming a world's first with the compressed hydrogen bunkering of its prototype zero-emissions ferry.
The 75-passenger Sea Change, which is to be delivered in 2022, is being completed at the All American Marine yard in the US state of Washington, where it will be the first in a series of sister vessels. It is now undergoing final operational trials before delivery to serve passenger traffic in the San Francisco Bay area in California.
In the 18 November hydrogen bunkering, described as "the world’s first hydrogen fueling of a commercial marine vessel", the Sea Change received hydrogen into its 242 kg upper deck tanks, the owner said in an announcement this week.
Fuel cells on board the vessel power electric motors allow the ferry to travel up to 300 nautical miles (560 km) at speeds up to 20 knots, comparable to diesel engine speeds. The US Coast Guard granted regulatory approval for the ferry's hydrogen power train and storage systems in October.
The hydrogen is produced using renewable energy.
"The fuel loaded in the vessel’s tanks includes green hydrogen, produced in California by an electrolyzer powered with renewable solar power, which results in zero carbon emissions in the production of the fuel as well," said Switch Maritime in its announcement.
The ship is built to be fueled directly by truck in a system designed by Zero Emission Industries (ZEI), formerly Golden Gate Zero Emission Marine. ZEI also designed the ferry's hydrogen fuel cell and battery electric power system. Vessel design is by Incat Crowther.
Switch Marine is led by chief executive officer Pace Ralli Volckert van Reesema of US-flag specialist shipowner MidOcean Marine.
Switch describes itself as "an impact investment firm building the first fleet of exclusively zero-carbon maritime vessels for adoption by existing ship owners and operators". MidOcean is also involved in US flag windfarm vessel projects through its MidOcean Wind, in partnership with Bernhard Schulte. With backing from Oaktree Capital Management, it also sponsors US LNG bunkering venture Clean Marine Energy.
Ralli and van Reesema did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment.
Builder All American, part of Bryton Marine Group, is based in Bellingham near Washington's border with Canada. It specialises in building aluminium-hulled vessels including passenger ferries, day cruise boats, patrol vessels and research vessels. Sea Change's hull construction was commenced at Bay Ship and Yacht in California.
Government support has been crucial to the project, which received a $3m grant from the California Air Resources Board plus a loan guarantee from the regional Bay Area Air Quality Management District, which enabled Switch to secure $5m in construction financing.
Further ferries in the Sea Change series are planned for delivery during 2022 in partnership with unnamed municipalities, said the company.
"While it’s taken us years to get to this point, the timing couldn’t be better," Ralli said in a statement.
"In this moment, our nation is more committed than ever to making the transition to a carbon-free economy. Hydrogen will play a major role in that future, and major players in the maritime industry are ready to decarbonise."
