Concordia Damen and Lenten Scheepvaart have signed a contract for the construction of what the companies claim is the first inland waterway vessel to run on a hydrogen power source.
The MV Antonie will measure 135m in length and weigh 3,700 tons, with propulsion provided by a fuel cell system. It is being produced to transport salt between Delfzijl in the north of the Netherlands and Botlek in the Port of Rotterdam for specialty chemicals company Nouryon.
“At Concordia Damen we have always been at the forefront of bringing increased sustainability to our industry,” commented Chris Kornet, CEO of Concordia Damen. “Greening the inland shipping sector is something that we feel passionate about and we will continue to work toward this goal. I believe there will not be one single way to reduce emissions in our sector, but a number of approaches. Hydrogen is likely to play an important role in the achievement of zero emissions in inland shipping. Lenten Scheepvaart is to be commended for taking this leading role.”
A €4m (US$4.8m) subsidy for the construction of the vessel has already been received by Lenten Scheepvaart from the Netherlands Department of Infrastructure and Water Management, which is promoting the use of hydrogen as a clean fuel as it seeks to achieve zero-emissions inland shipping.
A subsidized hydrogen bunker station in Delfzijl is to be utilized by the hydrogen-propelled MV Antonie.