Fincantieri lays keel of fuel cell-powered test vessel

Fincantieri laid the keel of a new experimental concept vessel at its Castellammare di Stabia shipyard on Wednesday, September 23.

Scheduled to be delivered in 2021, the 25-metre vessel will be powered by a hybrid engine with two diesel generators and two electric motors.

It will also be equipped with a 130kW fuel cell system powered by about 50 kilograms of hydrogen contained in eight metal hydride cylinders, using technologies already applied on board submarines, and a lithium battery system which can guarantee a zero-emission navigation endurance of eight hours at a speed of approximately 7.5 knots.

The vessel will serve as a floating laboratory to investigate fuel cell behaviour in real-world environments and to develop a new way of generating electricity and heat on board cruise ships.