Recently, Fuel Cell Boat BV, a consortium of Dutch companies, came to an agreement to develop and build the world?s first commercially operated hydrogen powered boat. This vessel will be used in Amsterdam for commuter services. The great advantage of this hydrogen boat is that it is environment-friendly and produces zero emission.
The vessel will have a capacity of 100 passengers and is expected to be completed later in 2007. The consortium will also place a refuelling station that will supply the boat with hydrogen which will be produced by means of electrolysis on the basis of electricity from wind energy. Today, small vessels powered by hydrogen already exist, but a commercially run hydrogen craft of this dimension is a world first.
The first potential customer for this hydro-boat will be Shell. The company plans to utilize the environment-friendly hydrogen boat to transport approximately 600 Shell-employees, on a daily basis, over the IJ river in Amsterdam, to and from their work between the Amsterdam Central Station and the new technology centre (NTC) of Shell. The Amsterdam shipping company, Lovers, will purchase this vessel and will be responsible for running it.
"This step is a splendid example of the innovative vigour of the Dutch knowledge-based industry and a breakthrough in the field of sustainable energy," states Hauke Sie of Fuel Cell Boat. "The development and construction of this hydrogen boat is taking place in close dialogue with the involved governmental organizations, research institutions and companies." The consortium comprises of 5 companies: Alewijnse, Integral, Linde Gas, Marine Service North and the shipping company Lovers. The Dutch Ministry of Economics has provided a subsidy for the development of this first hydrogen boat.
