This week the FPS Waal, formerly named Fenny 1, arrived at the Holland Shipyards Group yard in Werkendam in the Netherlands.

After the retrofit, a fully zero-emission hydrogen-powered vessel will commence.

The FPS Waal is scheduled to be put in operation for shipowner, and Flagships project partner, Future Proof Shipping early next year.

The vessel’s intended route will be between Rotterdam (NL) and Duisburg (DE) – on the river Rhine.

– This is a proud moment for both the Flagships project and for us in Future Proof Shipping. We want to fast-forward the transition to zero-emissions, and aim to have ten zero-emissions vessels in our fleet within ten years. After the successful conversion of H2 Barge 1 (formely known as FPS Maas), the FPS Waal will be our second vessel sailing emission-free on hydrogen, says Future Proof Shipping´s project manager, Dirk de Jong.

The FPS Waal will have a cargo capacity of 200 TEU. A total of six PEM fuel cell modules will be installed, raising the total power installed to 1,2 MW. Project partner Ballard´s FC Wave modular fuel cells will be in both of the Flagships vessels.

During the conversion, the main engine and generators will be removed and the new fuel cell section and battery room inside the cargo hold will be installed in the FPS Waal.

The FLAGSHIPS project has received funding from Clean Hydrogen Partnership (previously Fuel Cells and Hydrogen 2 Joint Undertaking) under grant agreement No 826215. This Joint Undertaking receives support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program and from Hydrogen Europe.