Aurelia Green Ship Concept Design has unveiled a new design for the first ro-ro that uses 100% hydrogen propulsion.
Maritime Executive reported this week that the start-up, which is focusing on designing zero-emission vessels, had described the unique design as one that could also be used as a model for heavy-lift, ro-pax and cruise ships to adopt pure hydrogen power. The design has been approved in principle by the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (Rina), based on the newly published Rules for Hydrogen-Fuelled Ships.
The new design concept is the ACD01 1000, a ro-ro vessel for transporting cargo, with electric propulsion using highly compressed H2 as its fuel. The vessel’s operating power emanates from compressed hydrogen that generates no environmentally harmful emissions. The design supports the operation of the vessel at sea and while docked in port. The hybrid propulsion is based on battery and fuel cell-power modules, with no support from fossil fuel-powered internal combustion engines.
“The world of zero emissions is a pioneering world open to new opportunities, which to some extent reminds me of the first operations in the heavy lift sector,” Ton Bos, partner and co-founder of Aurelia said.
“The cooperation with Rina is a strong signal that the maritime world is ready to work together for clean shipping.”
Aurelia Green Ship Concept Design has described the project as pioneering and applicable to other segments of shipping. The hull is designed to ensure excellent hydrodynamic and maximum propeller efficiency, while the overall vessel exceeds the limits set by the Energy Efficiency Design Index Phase 3, according to the Marine Environment Protection Committee. The vessel’s ballast water treatment plant has been designed according to the latest amendments in the International Ballast Water Management Convention.
“This new design for a compressed hydrogen ro-ro is part of a long-term cooperation between Aurelia and Rina in which we will develop a liquefied hydrogen propulsion system that could be used for heavy lift, cruise, and ro-pax vessels,” Raffaele Frontera, founding partner of the company said.
