Concordia Damen has stated that it recently carried out the technical sea
trials of the world’s first-ever newbuild hydrogen-powered inland shipping barge.
The shipping barge belonging to Lenten Scheepvaart (the Netherlands)
was inspected by Lloyd’s Register and received a provisional certificate to be put into service.
According to Concordia Dame , with this, Lenten Scheepvaart (the Netherlands)
sets a new standard as the first owner of the ship, which is an important step towards zero-emission transport on Dutch inland waterways. The Hydrogen Electric Cargo Ship is named ‘Antonie’ (WEVA – Hydrogen Electric Cargoship Antonie
).
With the hydrogen containers, expected to arrive by the end of this year, not yet installed on board, full attention could be given to testing the advanced diesel-electric propulsion system.
Bart van Driel, project manager at Concordia Damen,
said : “The fuel cell will soon serve as an energy supplier for the battery packs after the installation of the distribution panel and the placement of the hydrogen containers. The fuel cell itself, which converts hydrogen into electricity, has already been installed on board. Once the distribution panel is delivered, it is just a matter of sizing and manufacturing the final pieces of piping and adjusting the fuel cell installation itself. The diesel generator will then no longer be used, so the Antonie will sail completely emission-free.”
Pieter Baggerman, Naval Architect at Concordia Damen and closely involved in the innovative ship design, said “We look forward to the Antonie being able to sail her first fully emission-free miles before the end of the year.”
Concordia Damen has built up a considerable portfolio when it comes to building sustainable inland waterway vessels. Several maritime awards awarded to them and to their customers testify to the drive to keep innovating and pushing the boundaries of what is possible.
The WEVA project is a joint effort by Concordia Damen Shipbuilding in collaboration with CCM3, Nedstack Fuel Cell Technology, Nobian, Energy TransStore, NRPC and client Lenten Scheepvaart, among others. Its realisation has been made possible in part by a grant from the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.
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