– This is a huge accomplishment for Ballard, and a significant milestone in the Flagships project. In April 2022 we announced that FCwaveTM had received the world’s first DNV Type Approval certification. The new attestation from Bureau Veritas once again confirms the maritime industry´s ´recognition of FCwaveTM´s safety, reliability, and durability as a zero-emission power solution, says Kristina Fløche Juelsgaard, Market Development Manager, at Ballard Power Systems Europe.
Accelerating zero-emission marine propulsion
One of the Flagships project’s main goals is to raise the readiness of zero-emission waterborne transport in Europe.
– Our fuel cells are designed for – and together with – the maritime industry. We genuinely believe FCwaveTM can be a catalyst in accelerating net-zero technology. Being a viable true zero-emission option, fuel cells are the solution that will put the marine industry on a zero-emission path, says Kristina Fløche Juelsgaard.
Getting Bureau Veritas´ Design Review Attestation is an essential milestone for the Flagships project, and for the consortium partners to take the following steps towards the Approval in Principle of the entire Zulu Vessel
– This is very important to us. Together with the other world-leading technology companies that are part of the Flagships consortium, we are now one big step closer to getting the Zulu vessel on the water, says Director of Compagnie Fluviale de Transport (CFT), Matthieu Blanc.
The Zulu 06 will operate a route on the river Seine between Gennevilliers – Bonneuil Sur Marne in Paris, France. Compagnie Fluvial de Transport will operate the vessel for shipowner Sogestran.
An important year
The Design Review Attestation gives the Flagships project consortium a flying start on the new year.
– 2023 will be an excellent year for all of us. After years of planning, development and hard work, both project vessels, Zulu 06 and FPS Waal, will be put on the water. We are proud to be pioneering zero-emission technologies for hydrogen-powered ships. This proves collaboration across borders and companies is key to making the green shift happen, says Flagships project coordinator, Jyrki Mikkola at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland.
The second Flagships vessel, the FPS Waal, is owned and operated by the Netherlands-based Future Proof Shipping. Like Zulu 06, FPS Waal will also have Ballard FCwaveTM fuel cells installed this year. A total of six modules will be installed, giving the retrofitted vessel a total fuel cell capacity of 1,2 MW.
The 109,8-meter-long inland container cargo vessel will operate on the route between Rotterdam (NL) and Duisburg (DE) on the river Rhine.
