Windcat Workboats’ Hydrogen-Powered Hydrocat 48 Based at Port of Ostend

The Hydrocat 48 from CMB.TECH and Windcat Workboats is the world’s first hydrogen-powered CTV (Crew Transfer Vessel) to transfer crew to offshore wind farms. Since 21 July, the Hydrocat 48 has been bunkering hydrogen in the Port of Ostend and will make this its operational base for the coming months. The 25m long ship can carry a total of 210kg of hydrogen in the tanks and is powered by a dual fuel (hydrogen – diesel) engine.

The dual fuel solution offers the lowest cost and highest reliability for the greatest CO2 savings. The clean hydrogen fuel contains no carbon, which means that CO2 emissions are drastically reduced while power remains the same. The Hydrocat 48 saves 1.9 tons of carbon dioxide per day.

The major advantage of using hydrogen in shipping is that there are no CO2 emissions. Less CO2 emissions is good for the climate and fits in with the broader project to reduce the ecological footprint of Port of Ostend. This is therefore the next step in which the use of fossil fuels in the context of mobility is avoided where possible.

CMB.TECH and Windcat Workboats are working on the further optimization of the engine powers and the increased use of hydrogen. The long-term plan is to develop the technology and infrastructure to use a mono fuel option in the long run.

With this, Port of Ostend is continuing the transformation to a Sustainable Port.

Source Port of Ostend