Hydrogen tugboat: Hydrotug

Client: CMB.TECH

Features: Design of bunkering procedure for hydrogen in shipping and its application to the vessel Hydrotug, a tugboat with dual-fuel propulsion: hydrogen and diesel.

Before 2021, no bunkering procedure existed for hydrogen in shipping applications. The bunkering protocol developed by Ekinetix enables fast and safe filling of ships with compressed hydrogen gas. In addition, it provides a simple workable protocol for end users.

Ekinetix designed the bunkering system on both the supply and demand side and the on-board hydrogen storage system. This includes the system description and specifications. The bunker protocol ensures safe and fast filling, with a higher flow rate than is possible for (heavy duty) road vehicles.

In addition, Ekinetix took care of the complete permitting process, the Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) and the Hazard and Operability study (HAZOP) for the entire system. The ships can now be bunkered at various locations with the permission of the notified body.

Completion: Q3 2021

Source image: Port of Antwerp