Dutch sailing organisation reveals first hydrogen-powered RIB

The Dutch sailing organisation Watersportverbond has introduced its first hydrogen-powered coach boat, the H2C Boat, at the 2023 World Sailing Championships in The Hague, Netherlands.

The H2C Boat, developed by the Dutch startup H2 Marine Solutions, is equipped with a Torqeedo Deep Blue 50R outboard motor, and is a collaboration between companies, including longtime Torqeedo partner De Stille Boot and the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft).

Powered by a 40 kWh Deep Blue battery and an additional 51 kWh hydrogen capacity, the H2C Boat utilises a hydrogen fuel cell as a range extender, ensuring a minimum of five hours of operation on the water.

Coach boats are small vessels used to carry support staff and safety equipment to support the crew of a racing yacht.

The H2C Boat, measuring six metres in length and capable of reaching a top speed of 45 km/h, is said to offer a silent and emissions-free alternative to a conventional coach boat.

“Sailing is all about harnessing the power of nature, wind, and waves,” says Fabian Bez, CEO of Torqeedo. “Now, the highest levels of competitive sailing can achieve the range, runtime and performance they need in a coach boat, emission-free.”

Marcel Schaap, founder and managing director of distributor De Stille Boot, highlights that the use of zero-emission coach boats at major regattas is increasingly becoming a reality. “The presence of hundreds of coach boats at the World Championships showcases the potential of this project in reducing the carbon footprint of sailing events,” he says.

The H2C Boat project began with an idea from Dutch Olympic sailing coach Jaap Zielhuis during the 2018 World Championships in Denmark, resulting in a partnership between the Sailing Innovation Centre, Watersportverbond, TU Delft, De Stille Boot, Intelligent Energy, Hyfly, Koedood Marine Group, and Habbeké Shipyard. The development was also part of the Zephyr project, which aims to demonstrate the technical viability of a green hydrogen chain in the maritime sector in the Netherlands.

“Fuel cell technology in the maritime sector is still evolving,” says Bez. “As pioneers in electrification, we have designed our electric drive systems to leverage sustainable energy, from solar and wind power to fuel cells powered by hydrogen or other carbon-neutral liquid fuels.”