Windcat Workboats & CMB.TECH present the first hydrogen-powered Crew Transfer Vessel (CTV)
Windcat Workboats & CMB.TECH present the first hydrogen-powered Crew Transfer Vessel (CTV): the Hydrocat 48, ready for immediate operation
This vessel offers the industry a cost-effective solution to significantly reduce emissions from service vessels, which can be applied to any wind farm today. This solution can be seen as a steppingstone to fully hydrogen powered CTVs. By starting with dual fuel combustion engines, we can make hydrogen technology operational in the industry and kick-start further development of the technology, regulation, supply chain, etc. - Willem Van Der Wel - Managing Director of Windcat Workboats.
The suitability of this technology for a CTV is mainly because existing diesel engines can be used. No fundamental changes to the main engine are required, which not only means that maintenance and repair remain simple, but also that the engine can easily be switched back to diesel fuel without any modifications. Even if hydrogen is not available, the vessel can continue to run on traditional fuel, making it a very robust and reliable solution for the offshore wind industry - Roy Campe - CTO of CMB.TECH
Further optimisation: mono-fuel
CMB.TECH and Windcat Workboats are working on the further optimisation of engine capacities and the increased use of the hydrogen percentage. The long-term plan is to develop the technology and infrastructure to be able to eventually use a mono-fuel option via an internal combustion engine (ICE).
Hydrogen supply and mobile refueller
The hydrogen supply chain still needs to grow to become readily accessible in more locations. There is a significant shift towards hydrogen applications, and it is expected that the hydrogen supply chain will develop in the coming years. CMB.TECH and Windcat have also developed solutions for the supply of hydrogen to the vessel in this early phase of hydrogen development. CMB.TECH has designed a 40ft 500bar trailer for remote refuelling of all the various systems applying the technology currently in use. Multiple applications and customers can be served by this one system, which can also support the Hydrocat.
Windcat, together with its joint venture partners TSM and FRS, has three more vessels under construction that can be delivered with the hydrogen technology on board. More CTV designs using this technology are being developed.
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