FutureShip designs zero-emission fuel cell ferry for Scandlines
Further to Scandlines' expression of interest in fuel cell ferries for the Fehmarn Belt crossing between Denmark and Germany, a shipping efficiency consultancy has produced a design for the proposed ferries.
Germanischer Lloydsubsidiary FutureShip has developed a zero-emission propulsion concept for Scandlines, which could be implemented on the Baltic ferries within the next five years.
The zero-emission ferries have 8.3MW fuel cells and 140 cubic metre hydrogen tanks, sufficient for a passage of 48 hours, as well as storage batteries with 2.4MWh capacity.
The ferries travel at a cruising speed of 17 knots, but can accelerate up to a maximum speed of 18 knots by drawing additional power from the batteries. Flettner rotors, meanwhile, harvest wind energy.
FutureShip estimates that the ferries would cost "only about 25% more than a conventional design" and says they could be built with technology available today.