Netherlands-based battery technology company EST-Floattech has been selected by Future Proof Shipping of Rotterdam to supply equipment for the retrofitting of one of its inland container vessels, ‘FPS Maas’ with a zero-emissions hydrogen propulsion system.
Future Proof Shipping is working with Holland Shipyards Group on sustainable projects, where HSG builds or retrofits the ships, and FPS, as the zero-emissions shipowner, offers sustainable marine transportation services. With the FPS Maas, FPS is en route to build and operate a fleet of 10 zero-emission inland and short-sea vessels. For HSG the refit of the Maas is part of its ambition to work on a greener and more sustainable shipping industry. Dutch System Integrator Oechies is a part of this project and has chosen to collaborate with EST-Floattech on the refit of the Maas to hybrid H2-electrical propulsion.
The container ship is currently at Holland Shipyards Group in Werkendam with work about to begin following several months of preparation, including energy profiling. The current diesel propulsion will be replaced with hydrogen technology, removing both the main engine and gearbox and installing a new modular propulsion system. This will consist of electric motors, hydrogen tanks, a fuel cell system and an EST-Floattech battery system with a capacity of 504 kWh. In this case, EST-Floattech’s DNV-certified Green Orca system will be used for peak shaving, secondary and bridging power. In the Green Orca system, many hard- and software fail-safes are implemented to ensure safe and long-time operation of the batteries.
Walter van der Pennen, Commercial Director, EST-Floattech, saids: “We are pleased that after previous successful collaborations Oechies contacted us again and chose for the robust Green Orca System. We are determined to contribute to a more sustainable world and through the delivery of this these batteries we support reducing emissions of the marine industry using hybrid propulsion systems.”
Fokke van der Veen, Director Operations, FPS, said: “EST-Floattech is one of the few that can deliver the battery power required for the FPS Maas and we are pleased to have them onboard in this challenging project, through our partners at Oechies. We look forward to a constructive partnership in battery technology, not only during delivery and integration but also during our operations.”
Once the ‘FPS Maas’ is back in service, it will resume shipping container cargo between Rotterdam and Antwerp.
