Fabrum and King Watercraft in have partnered to develop a hydrogen-powered rigid inflatable boat (RIB) designed for tourism, commercial, and recreational use.
Both companies are based out of Christchurch, New Zealand.
The H2Ocean boat, part of King Watercraft's RIB lineup, is set to begin sea trials in early 2025 and is designed as a malleable platform that can be adjusted to the specific needs of future owners. The boat carries 18 kg (39 lbs) of 350-bar hydrogen gas which powers a fuel cell that charges a battery bank. This battery bank then drives the boat’s twin sterndrive electric propellers.
The boat is built with an aluminum hull and hypalon pontoons and offers a range of 200 nautical miles. It carries a displacement of 3500 kg (7716 lbs) and uses EV fast charging for its battery components.
The two companies say the boat can accommodate up to 12 passengers and is ideal for commercial applications things guided tourism or ferrying in medium to large waterways. The boat can also be configured to carry fewer passengers in order to make room for specialized equipment for search and rescue, Coast Guard, diving, or similar uses.
Christopher Boyle, Executive Chair of Fabrum, told Marine Industry News UK, “Electrics are the most common and easy concept for people to understand, which is why it sits on most people‘s view at the moment."
“But the reality is for distance, electric can’t do it. It has two downsides: the weight of the batteries and the time it takes to recharge them. If you go to hydrogen, especially liquid, you have lighter storage systems and more energy stored on board. So hence, ferries can do longer trips, and you can do a much faster refill as it’s similar to refilling with diesel as a liquid."
"This initiative has added significance as our companies are based in Christchurch, fast becoming known as the hydrogen city of New Zealand,” added Boyle.
The push towards hydrogen has largely been held up by storage requirements. Early iterations have been seen on superyachts, including on Bill Gates' recent Project 821 from Feadship, which use a significant amount of interior space for storing hydrogen tanks and its related components. Smaller versions have started to appear, including another smaller RIB in The Netherlands called the H2C Boat. Major industry players like Yanmar have also announced the development of smaller-sized hydrogen propulsion prototypes.
Will King, Founder and Managing Director of King Watercraft, has been working over a decade building custom RIBs tailored to client needs in New Zealand and beyond. He said, “What makes us unique is our ability to push design boundaries to stand out from the crowd, always striving to be one step ahead." "With a focus on being at the forefront of sustainable propulsion, the shared values of King Watercraft and Fabrum brought this idea to life and together, this project offers a lighter footprint for the marine industry here and around the world.”
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