The offshore supply vessel (OSV) Coastal Liberty has set sail on the waters of the Wadden Sea, running on green hydrogen. The refitted OSV has received class certification by DNV for its newly installed hydrogen system on board.

eCap Marine, contracted by Offshore Service Gesellschaft mbH, engineered the system to enable the vessel to operate without producing any emissions, using hydrogen and batteries. The green hydrogen for the installed fuel cells will be produced locally and sustainably, using offshore wind power on an electrolyzer hydrogen plant a few kilometers from the vessel’s berth that was installed simultaneously to the fuel cell project. The electrolyzer is designed to expand in case of higher demand.

eCap Marine designed the three swappable high-pressure tank systems to be easily and safely switched, disconnected and reconnected. This process takes just a few minutes, due to the tool-less design and standard connections for crane and truck.

For the vessel’s crew, the new system means reduced vibrations on board and more direct propulsion, allowing for immediate response to the propeller shafts.

Jochen Kaufholt, CEO of Offshore Service Gesellschaft, describes the Coastal Liberty as the first of its kind and a flagship for the maritime energy transition in Europe.

Learn more here.