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First hydrogen CTV unveiled in Germany
FRS Windcat Offshore Logistics (FWOL) introduced the first hydrogen-powered crew transfer vessel (CTV) to the German offshore market in January 2024, heralding the start of a new era for offshore support in northern Europe
Hydrocat 55 is a 25-m dual-fuel CTV able to accommodate 24 passengers and three crew; it will support 50Hertz at various windfarms in the German Baltic Sea.
It was developed by Euronav’s CMB.Tech and is operated by Flensburg-based FWOL from the port of Sassnitz, Germany.
With a tank capacity that holds 207 kg of hydrogen in 27 cylinders, plus a MAN Engines dual-fuel unit, it is retrofitted with a hydrogen injection system by CMB.Tech to significantly reduce diesel consumption and CO2 emissions. A year-long trial using green hydrogen began January 2024.
Having a dual-fuel engine means no fundamental changes were needed for the vessel’s main propulsion and it can be switched back to diesel without any modifications if hydrogen is not available.
Hydrocat 55 was built in the same way to Hydrocat 48, which was launched as the first hydrogen-powered CTV worldwide in 2022, for operations in Belgium.
Riviera Maritime Media witnessed the hydrogen-fuelled engines in action on Hydrocat 48 in Antwerp, Belgium, in December 2023 and spoke to CMB.Tech senior management about the next phase for introducing more hydrogen-fuelled vessels.
In collaboration with Windcat Workboats, five more CTVs of this type are under construction.
“FWOL is committed making a significant contribution to the decarbonisation of offshore logistics and supporting green production of renewable energy with Hydrocat 55 and further vessels of this type,” said FWOL managing director, Tim Kunstmann.
50Hertz is the transmission system operator responsible for connecting the grid to windfarms in the German Baltic Sea; it has two other vessels from FWOL’s fleet on charter.
Windcat Workboats managing director, Willem van der Wel, said, “We are reducing the carbon emissions of our customers in the offshore wind industry, today.”
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