Design of Orkney hydrogen-powered ferry revealed

Could we be sailing into a future of cleaner and greener vessels operating on Orkney’s internal ferry routes?

While we are some way off from seeing an entire fleet of carbon-free vessels, the prospect of seeing Europe’s first sea-going ferry to be powered entirely by hydrogen in Orkney has inched that little bit closer.

The designs of a hydrogen vessel that will operate between Kirkwall and Shapinsay have just been published.

A double-ended sea-going passenger and car ferry, it will have capacity for 120 passengers and 16 cars or two trucks.

The designs show how a vessel purely powered by renewable energy may look and will provide a blueprint to the further development of zero-emissions ferry travel.

The renderings mark a milestone for the the Scottish-led EU-funded HySeas III programme which includes CMAL, St Andrews University, Orkney Islands Council and several European organisations.

The next stage of the project will see the consortium seek feasibility approval in principle of the designs before testing of the technology, and confirming power and fuel capacity for the load requirements of the new ferry.

The design is expected to be completed in March 2022, at which point CMAL will seek funding partners to take the approved design to the procurement stage, which will lead on to the eventual tendering and construction of the vessel.

While it has been designed to operate on the route between Kirkwall and Shapinsay, where hydrogen fuel is generated through wind power, it will be capable of operating at other ports where hydrogen could become available in the future.

John Salton, fleet manager and projects director at CMAL said: “We know that maritime transport remains the UK’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, and our HySeas III project will pave the way for the first seagoing vessel using purely renewable energy.

“Seeing the concept designs brings the project to life. The vessel design is broadly based on our larger loch class vessels, which are double-ended.

“Once the designs are approved, we will move to the next stage of the project, which will see the build of the engine to be used in feasibility studies.

“The maritime industry has a key role in the global fight for climate change, and this project marks a step toward emissions-free marine transport.”