The Port of IJmuiden in the Netherlands has been granted a permit for hydrogen bunkering. This will enable Windcat Workboats’ Hydrocat 48 crew transport vessel (CTV) to bunker with hydrogen in the port to increase sustainability.
The Hydrocat 48 CTV transports crew to and from offshore wind farms for scheduled maintenance and construction operations. Regularly sailing in IJmuiden, the CTV has recently conducted a successful hydrogen bunkering pilot. Following this, the vessel will be deployed from the port of Ostend in Belgium for normal operations.
By using hydrogen for work activities, the vessel aims to contribute to the province of Noord-Holland’s target to be climate neutral by 2050. Working in conjunction with the Environment Agency IJmond, Zeehaven IJmuiden NV and the Port of Amsterdam, Windcat Workboats conducted an investigation into what was needed to enable hydrogen bunkering in the port. The Environment Agency IJmond subsequently granted an environmental permit for bunkering on behalf of the municipality of Velsen.
“With this permit, an important step has been taken to be able to use hydrogen as a fuel for ships and also to make the industry greener,” commented Willem van der Wel, managing director, Windcat Workboats. “The bunkering of hydrogen for shipping is a new development, which meant that the permit process was not easy. With this first hydrogen bunkering permit, we expect to be able to accelerate the use of hydrogen as a green fuel.”