Dutch shipyard announces first hydrogen fuel-cell superyacht

Dutch shipyard Feadship, which specialises in custom superyachts, has confirmed it is entering the hydrogen superyacht market.

Jan-Bart Verkuyl, Feadship director and chief executive of Royal Van Lent Shipyard, confirmed that its first hydrogen fuel-cell superyacht is in-build. “[We’re] proud to announce Feadship’s advanced solution for more sustainable yachting: a fully certified liquid hydrogen fuel-cell yacht,” he says in a statement released on LinkedIn.

Feadship confirms the yacht will house a cryogenic fuel tank, storing liquified hydrogen at around -250°C; being the densest storage method of pure hydrogen.

The shipyard says this fuel cell bank will be sufficient to sail at a decent speed while still powering the hotel load in summer conditions.

Hydrogen propulsion has an increasing interest in recent years among superyacht builders and commercial vessel makers, as it can be produced efficiently through electrolysis from electricity. With increasing wind, sun and other renewable power supply, green hydrogen production will ramp up to buffer the renewable energy.

The company also recently released outside images of ‘muscular’ Project 823, which moved outside of the construction hall at the Kaag yard for final outfitting in advance of sea trials later this year.